Show Notes
Was the suspected plague death of Darya Shipilova in Russia an accident, or could it point to a wider threat from biological weapons?
In this episode, hosts Bianca Nobilo and Tim Marshall investigate the history of plague as a weapon, exploring how it has been used and feared from ancient Egypt to the modern day. As questions emerge over the circumstances surrounding the suspected case in Russia, we examine the history of biological warfare, the dangers of weaponising deadly diseases, and the concerns surrounding Russia’s potential bioweapons capabilities.
(00:00:19) Plague as a weapon
(00:01:02) Soviet biological weapons program
(00:07:06) How it spread: Fleas, rats & trade
(00:09:25) Empire weakened by plague
(00:11:41) 'Leaking out of every orifice'
(00:15:17) Black Death, The Decameron & Bianca's pirate links
(00:18:25) Shakespeare & the bubonic plague
(00:22:13) Who else used biological warfare? Germany, Japan & Unit 731
(00:29:54) Empathy with our ancestors
(00:31:57) Watch more History Uncensored & 'avoid cliches like the plague' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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