Spanish Flu

Throughout history, people have prepared for the apocalypse. This series focuses on the different threats that may bring about the end of humanity. How the World Ends covers worldwide theories on the end of the world from Nostradamus prophecies, celestial armageddon, killer bacteria, virus epidemics, nuclear threats and biblical prophecies. How the World Ends takes a closer look at the people, the science and the history surrounding each theory's impending countdown to destruction.

Pandemics are potentially very destructive phenomena, and for that reason, they both fascinate and frighten us. And because they are shot through with uncertainty, they often become sites of contestation and conflict.

All you need for a plague to go pandemic are population clusters and travellers spreading the bacterial or viral pathogens. Many prehistoric civilisations died fast, leaving cities undamaged to mystify archeologists. Plague in Athens killed 30% of the population 430-426 BCE. When Roman Emperor Justinian I caught bubonic plague in 541 CE, contemporary historian Procopius described his symptoms: fever, delirium and buboes – large black swellings of the lymphatic glands in the groin, under the arms and behind the ears.