Researching historical epidemics is a strange problem: the data exists, but it is scattered across academic papers, WHO PDFs, Wikipedia, and country health ministries with mismatched definitions.

Start with a structured timeline Before opening any tool, you want a calibrated mental model. Our [historical epidemics dataset](/data/historical-epidemics) lists 21 major pandemics from the Antonine Plague (165 CE) to COVID-19 with estimated death-toll ranges. Use this to anchor the era you're researching.

Visual atlases [Plague Atlas](https://plagueatlas.com) maps major historical outbreaks geographically and chronologically — useful for spotting patterns across centuries (trade routes, climate events, war).

Mortality context Historical death tolls only make sense relative to baseline mortality. [Death Vault](https://deathvault.app) presents life-expectancy and cause-of-death data in a readable format for general audiences.

Primary sources - **WHO Disease Outbreak News** (1996–present): authoritative for modern outbreaks. - **CDC MMWR**: weekly mortality and morbidity reports back to 1952. - **Our World in Data — Pandemics**: the best free explorable dashboard. - **JSTOR + Wikipedia citation chains**: for pre-20th-century events, Wikipedia's references are surprisingly thorough — follow them to the originals.

Be skeptical of single numbers For events like the Black Death, mortality estimates range from 75 million to 200 million. That isn't bad data — it's honest uncertainty. Our dataset shows both bounds so you can cite the range rather than a false-precision midpoint.

Build on the data The dataset is available as [CSV](/data/historical-epidemics/epidemics.csv) and [JSON](/data/historical-epidemics/epidemics.json) under CC BY 4.0. Use it in your own visualisations, classroom materials or research.