Practicing History Podcast Episode 6: The Plague of Athens in 430 BCE

In this episode of The Practicing History Podcast, we begin a new series focused on plagues, outbreaks, and pandemics. These new episodes will explore the ways that historical actors experienced and described the diseases and sicknesses ravaging their communities. These times of crisis were important moments for peoples of the past to reflect on their societies, think about their pasts, imagine their futures, and even critique the status quo.

For historians, the accounts that survive of these events can provide insight into the ideals, beliefs, hopes, values, expectations, and social practices of past societies. Given our current historical moment, engaging with how people responded to the existential challenges posed by a disease outbreak provides us with perspective for our contemporary contexts. This engagement encourages us to think about our own societies, values, responsibilities, and actions.

Today’s episode looks at the plague that hit Athens in 430 BCE. Described by Thucydides in his book The Peloponnesian War, this outbreak devastated Athenian society and killed tens of thousands of people. We will do a close reading of Thucydides’ text, which examines the duties and virtue of the individual in relationship to the city-state.