Since the beginning of time disease and illnesses have plagued mankind. As we have evolved and spread across the globe, so have infectious viruses. While outbreaks have been fairly common in modern times, the majority did not reach the pandemic levels that COVID-19 has. Widespread disease developed when society shifted to agricultural communities. Trade between communities created new opportunities for interactions between humans and animals. As trade became standard, the scale and spread of these diseases began to increase dramatically.

Epidemics such as the plague, smallpox, tuberculosis, and others first appeared during these early years. As society advanced, larger cities were created, and living in close proximity to each other and animals, with poor sanitation and nutrition, were breeding grounds for disease. Exotic and overseas trade routes spread these novel infections far and wide, creating the first global pandemics. Since then, many more widespread diseases have evolved including Cholera, the Spanish flu, and now Coronavirus. Read more to learn about the deadliest pandemics in history.