# Germ Theory — WHE Definition Discussion (1-22085) **URL:** \ **Category:** WHE Articles\ **Created:** [July 24, 2023, 4:00pm UTC](https://community.worldhistory.org/t/germ-theory-whe-definition-discussion-1-22085/17443 "2023-07-24T16:00:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jhorgan](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/community.worldhistory.org/jhorgan/32/166_2.png) [@jhorgan](https://community.worldhistory.org/u/jhorgan)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2023, 4:00pm UTC](https://community.worldhistory.org/t/germ-theory-whe-definition-discussion-1-22085/17443/1 "2023-07-24T16:00:01Z")
The germ theory, which emerged in the late 19th century, demonstrated that microscopic germs caused most human infectious diseases. The germs involved included bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and prions. Louis Pasteur (1822-1895), a French chemist and microbiologist, and Robert Koch (1843-1910), a German physician and microbiologist, are credited with the discovery of the germ theory in the 1860s-1880s. * * * _This is a companion discussion topic for the original definition at [https://www.worldhistory.org/Germ\_Theory/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Germ_Theory/)._ * * * **Join the Conversation** - Is there a related topic you'd like to see covered? - Anything here you'd push back on? - Have you come across a different take on this topic? Is there anything you'd like to ask about this definition? Ask away — and if you spot something that should be covered, that's useful to know too. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/community.worldhistory.org/system/32/30_2.png) [@system](https://community.worldhistory.org/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2026, 8:28pm UTC](https://community.worldhistory.org/t/germ-theory-whe-definition-discussion-1-22085/17443/2 "2026-07-31T20:28:57Z")
Unlisted on July 31, 2026, 8:28pm UTC