Map Showing How Smallpox Spread

A simplified overview of the historical spread of smallpox highlighting the success of vaccines.

“From East to West, by caravans of traders and by travelers, by armies and by ships, Smallpox spread its cloak over the world, and was only checked at last, by Vaccination.” [Text at bottom of page]

The specter of death, seen at the top of the page, was rolled back thanks to the ingenuity of Edward Jenner, who pioneered an early method of inoculation from smallpox by using the less-lethal cowpox strain. Pictorial elements across the map are often tinged with stereotypes (note the African and Native American figures) and the source of the diseases is identified in southern India.

According to the CDC, “The origin of smallpox is unknown. The finding of smallpox-like rashes on Egyptian mummies suggests that smallpox has existed for at least 3,000 years. The earliest written description of a disease like smallpox appeared in China in the 4th century CE (Common Era). Early written descriptions also appeared in India in the 7th century and in Asia Minor in the 10th century.”

Source.