The Impact of Cholera and Covid 19 From 19th Century to 21st Century: A Comparative Historical Study

Abstract

This dissertation presents a comparative historical study of the cholera epidemics of the 19th century and the COVID-19 pandemic of the 21st century, with a particular focus on Europe and the Western world. Despite occurring in vastly different historical and technological contexts, both pandemics reveal striking parallels in how Western societies experience, respond to, and are transformed by public health crises. Covering the period from the early 1800s to the year 2022, the study explores how each outbreak unfolded epidemiologically and examines societal responses through public health measures, economic strategies, and political decision-making. Special attention is given to the role of the media in shaping public opinion and influencing policy. Relying on a comparative historical methodology and using both primary and secondary sources, the study analyzes these two pandemics side by side to highlight recurring patterns in how such crises disrupt labor markets, expose social vulnerabilities, and drive institutional reform. Ultimately, it traces the evolution of global health governance and sheds light on the enduring challenges of managing public trust, inequality, and crisis communication across time.