The Center for the Revival of Arab Scientific Heritage at the University of Baghdad organized a scientific seminar on the morning of Wednesday, April 22, 2026, entitled “The Historical Geography of Epidemics and Their Impact on Population Distribution.” The lecture was delivered by Assistant Lecturer Wasan Adel Abd Al-Wahab, a researcher and faculty member at the Center, in the Hall of Professor Nabeela Abdul-Munim Dawood. The seminar witnessed distinguished attendance from researchers and academics and presented in-depth discussions on the historical role of health geography in understanding human transformations.
The researcher addressed the ways in which diseases have spread across space and time and their pivotal role in shaping the world's population map. She highlighted epidemics as a demographic driving force and emphasized their significance as decisive historical factors in altering population density and patterns of human settlement.
The lecture examined several major epidemics, including the Black Death, which caused a dramatic decline in Europe's population, leading to large-scale migrations and significant changes in population concentration centers. It also discussed the experience of the Americas, where the spread of diseases following the arrival of Europeans resulted in a substantial decline in indigenous populations and brought about profound demographic changes.
Furthermore, the researcher emphasized the role of geographical factors in the spread of epidemics, including climate conditions, transportation networks, and urban overcrowding, all of which contributed to accelerating disease transmission, particularly in major cities.
The seminar also focused on the consequences of epidemics, including migration movements, population redistribution, and the economic and demographic transformations whose effects remain evident in the modern era.
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