Tag Archives: Coronavirus

The Plague in Ancient Athens: A Cautionary Tale for America

Posted on December 24, 2020 by Fred Zilian

(Note: This essay was originally published by the Newport Daily News on December 7, 2020, and by the History News Network on December 20, 2020.) Twenty-four hundred fifty years ago the ancient Greek city-state of Athens—Western civilization’s first democracy and … Continue reading →

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Coronavirus May Generate New Civic Spirit

Posted on April 30, 2020 by Fred Zilian

April 13, 2020 (Note: This essay was originally published at thehill.com on April 23, 2020, as “Could the coronavirus create a new civic spirit in America?”) While the coronavirus does unutterable harm to Americans, it also presents us with a … Continue reading →

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Earlier Pandemics More Deadly Yet Instructive

Posted on April 3, 2020 by Fred Zilian

(Note: This essay was originally published by the Newport Daily News on March 30, 2020.) The two most lethal pandemics in western history can help us think about the challenges and stakes we currently face with the coronavirus: the Black … Continue reading →

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