¶ … 13th century, the world's civilizations -- by the most accurate of definitions -- were emerging from lower cultural and technological evolution to a higher plane of refinement. Thought, manners, life situations, and the like were being considered as important as survival.
From 1200 to 1600 AD, Europe demonstrated its emergent renaissance; France, Asia, Africa, and the Northern Hemisphere were sending explorers to uncharted territories and discovering wonders not yet conceived. Average citizens took control of personal destinies and global civilizations shrunk the world practically overnight. The end of the period of increased contact ushered the Industrial Revolution into the lifestyles of the largest countries in the world and with it entered competition. Marketplace dominance, intellectual pursuits, quality of life, and a longer life expectancy emerged as one result of ever-increasing contact with other nations.
Examples of Global Contact
In 1275, Marco Polo discovered "burning black rocks" while traveling through China. These rocks became known as coal and England embraced this new form of fossil fuel to the disregard of all others and the inevitable detriment of public health. The cloud of pollutants was so thick, Edward I forbad coal's burning during Parliamentary...
Italy began to develop a social climate of mining's occupational hazards in 1556 -- the harbinger of black lung and other diseases still in existence. Physicians the world over began to communicate with one another concerning the nature of nosocomial and infectious diseases; Girolamo Fracastoro outlined his 3 pronged theory in 1546 while German, Jewish, English, Chinese, and French medical practitioners began acknowledging that isolation and disinfection were paramount considerations when avoiding plague recurrences.
Scotland began contributing the cleaner burning anthracite in 1603 out of market demand for healthier ways to prevent death in the frigid climates of the world. The origins of epidemiology are rooted in the mid-1600's with the misguided but sincere study of mortality statistics; France regulated its forests for Navy usage and support; colonial American Jared Eliot introduced efficient husbandry by -- among other things -- teaching…
