Social and Political Aspects of Epidemics and Pandemics in the Context of Russian Imperial Policy

Abstract

For centuries, Georgia, due to its location of a geopolitical importance, used to be devastated not only by armed invaders but also by severe epidemics. Cholera, smallpox, tuberculosis and other contagious diseases did not spare any class of the population, causing great damage to the development of Georgian literature and culture. Many famous and promising people were killed by these terrible diseases, especially Georgian students who went to study at Russian universities and who would contract tuberculosis and die. During the epidemics, many prominent public figures participating in the national liberation struggles were infected while imprisoned and died in prison.