From sudden events such as the Lisbon earthquake of 1755, to those that unfolded over many years, crises and catastrophes were omnipresent in early modernity. While contemporaries often agreed that crises were imminent or unfolding, like today they did not always agree on how to respond. This course considers specific public health crises of the period, such as the global spread of smallpox and plague, positioning these within key readings in the history of science, medicine, capitalism and empire. Students also will study the disruptive dimensions of the period’s political and ecological crises and links between experiencing crisis and activism. Prerequisite: One course in history with attribute G4 including AP or IB credit.