Imagine living in a world where you had to worry about saber-tooth tigers, meteorites, or even poisonous mushrooms. While these might sound like scenes from a movie, throughout history, people have faced many dangers. However, most people didn’t meet their end because of saber-tooths or meteorites. In fact, about 110 billion people have died throughout human history, and the reasons for their deaths have varied greatly. Let’s take a journey through time to explore how the common causes of death have changed—or stayed the same—over the years.
Hi, I’m David from MinuteEarth. Before we dive into our historical tour, it’s important to understand that figuring out why people died long ago is tricky. Until recently, humans didn’t keep detailed records of deaths, and even today, it can be hard to pinpoint the exact cause of someone’s death. But by piecing together different bits of information, scientists and historians have made educated guesses about the most common causes of death throughout history.
Let’s start with the prehistoric era, a time when about 10 billion people lived and died. These early humans were hunters and gatherers who faced harsh living conditions. Without proper sanitation, many died from injuries, infected wounds, and parasites. But there were also three other major causes of death that we’ll talk about later.
Next came the agricultural era, during which around 60 billion people lived and died. Living with animals led to diseases like smallpox and tuberculosis, and relying on crops meant that when crops failed, people starved. Sanitation was still poor, so infections and parasites remained a big threat. And yes, those three other major causes of death were still around.
During the urbanization and trade era, another 30 billion people lived and died. Global travel introduced new diseases like measles and flu to different regions, wiping out entire civilizations. With people living closer together, plagues spread quickly. Other infections and parasites, especially tuberculosis, were common, along with those three persistent causes of death.
In our current era, about 10 billion people have died, but the reasons have changed. Thanks to soap, vaccines, and antibiotics, we’ve gotten better at avoiding many of the threats from earlier times. Now, common causes of death include heart disease and cancer, which mostly affect older people. Unfortunately, those three major causes of death are still significant.
Now, let’s talk about those three major causes of death that have been around since the beginning of humanity and have likely claimed more lives than anything else.
First is violence. Researchers estimate that wars and violence have resulted in about three billion deaths throughout history. In some ancient cultures, violence was responsible for more than half of all deaths. While things have improved today, violence still causes around a million deaths each year worldwide.
Next is childbirth, which has claimed the lives of more than 5 billion women throughout history, mainly due to complications like bleeding. In particularly tough times, more than 25% of women giving birth might have died. Today, with many births happening in modern hospitals with trained professionals, far fewer women die during childbirth, but the number is still high at around 300,000 each year.
Finally, we have malaria, which is likely the biggest killer. Historical records and genetic adaptations show that malaria has been a threat since ancient times. Although we’ve made great strides in preventing and treating it, malaria still causes over half a million deaths annually. Some estimates suggest that throughout history, malaria has killed more than 10 billion people, meaning that one tiny parasite has claimed roughly 10 percent of all humans who have ever lived.
Research and create a timeline that highlights the major causes of death throughout different historical eras. Use images and brief descriptions to illustrate how these causes have evolved over time. This will help you understand the progression and persistence of certain threats to human life.
Participate in a role-playing debate where you and your classmates represent different historical eras. Argue why your era was the worst time to die, using evidence from the article. This activity will enhance your understanding of historical contexts and the challenges faced by people in different times.
Conduct a research project focused on malaria, its historical impact, and current efforts to combat it. Present your findings in a creative format, such as a video or infographic. This will deepen your knowledge of one of the most persistent causes of death in human history.
Create an interactive map that shows the spread of diseases like smallpox, tuberculosis, and malaria over time. Use historical data to plot how these diseases affected different regions. This will help you visualize the global impact of diseases throughout history.
Write a personal reflection essay on how modern advancements in medicine and sanitation have changed the common causes of death. Consider how these changes have impacted your own life and community. This activity will encourage you to appreciate the progress made in public health.
Saber-tooth tigers, meteorites, mushrooms… you name it, and someone somewhere at some point has probably faced danger from it. However, most people weren’t harmed by saber-tooths or meteorites. About 110 billion people have died throughout human history for various reasons. Some causes of death, though, have been far more common than others, so we’re going to take a historical tour of human mortality and highlight how the common causes of death have changed over time… or haven’t.
Hi, I’m David and this is MinuteEarth. Before we take that tour, it’s important to note that quantifying causes of death from long ago is quite challenging; until recently, humans didn’t keep detailed death records, and it can be difficult – even today – to determine what actually caused a person’s death. However, by compiling various pieces of information, scientists and historians have made educated estimates about the most common causes of death throughout history.
Let’s start with the prehistoric era, during which about 10 billion people lived and died. These hunters and gatherers faced tough living conditions without proper sanitation, leading to many deaths from injuries, infected wounds, and parasites. There were also three other significant causes of death, which we’ll discuss later.
Next was the agricultural era, during which another approximately 60 billion people lived and died. Living with livestock led to deaths from animal-borne diseases like smallpox and tuberculosis, and reliance on crops resulted in mass starvation when crops failed. Sanitation improvements were minimal, so infections and parasites continued to be major threats. And yes, those three other significant causes of death were still present.
During the urbanization and trade era, around another 30 billion people lived and died. The beginnings of global travel introduced unfamiliar diseases like measles and flu to new regions, devastating entire civilizations. With people living in closer quarters than ever, plagues spread rapidly. Other infections and parasites, especially tuberculosis, were also rampant, along with those three other significant causes of death.
In the current era, another 10 billion or so people have died, but mostly from different causes. Thanks to the widespread use of soap, vaccines, and antibiotics, we’ve become much better at avoiding many of the threats that plagued earlier eras. Now, common causes of death include heart disease and cancer, which tend to affect older individuals. Unfortunately, those three significant causes of death are still prevalent.
Now, let’s discuss those three major causes of death that have persisted since the dawn of humanity and have likely claimed more lives than anything else. The first is violence; researchers estimate that wars and violence have resulted in around three billion deaths throughout history. In some ancient cultures, violence accounted for more than half of all deaths. While the situation has improved today, violence still claims around a million lives each year worldwide.
Next is childbirth, which has claimed the lives of more than 5 billion women throughout history, primarily due to complications like bleeding. In particularly difficult times, more than 25% of women giving birth likely died. Nowadays, with many births occurring in modern hospitals under trained supervision, far fewer women die during childbirth, but the number remains alarmingly high at around 300,000 each year.
Finally, we have malaria, which is likely the most significant killer. Historical records and genetic adaptations indicate that malaria has been a threat since ancient times. Although advances in prevention and treatment have significantly reduced the death rate, the disease still causes over half a million deaths annually. Some estimates suggest that throughout history, malaria has killed more than 10 billion people – meaning that one tiny parasite has claimed roughly 10 percent of all humans who have ever lived.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – In history class, we learned about the causes and effects of the American Revolution.
Biology – The scientific study of life and living organisms. – Our biology teacher explained how photosynthesis is essential for plant life.
Sanitation – Measures taken to protect public health, especially by providing clean water and disposing of waste. – Improved sanitation in the 19th century helped reduce the spread of infectious diseases in cities.
Violence – Behavior involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something. – The history textbook described the violence that erupted during the French Revolution.
Childbirth – The process of giving birth to a baby. – Advances in medical science have made childbirth much safer than it was in the past.
Malaria – A disease caused by a plasmodium parasite, transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes. – Malaria was a major health issue during the construction of the Panama Canal.
Diseases – Disorders or illnesses that affect a living organism. – The spread of diseases like smallpox had a significant impact on indigenous populations during European colonization.
Agriculture – The practice of cultivating soil, growing crops, and raising animals for food, fiber, and other products. – The development of agriculture allowed early humans to settle in one place and form civilizations.
Urbanization – The process of making an area more urban, typically involving the growth of cities. – The Industrial Revolution led to rapid urbanization as people moved to cities for factory jobs.
Parasites – Organisms that live on or in a host organism and get their food from or at the expense of their host. – In biology, we studied how parasites like tapeworms can affect the health of their hosts.
