ABSTRACT
Terrorism has been evolving as a political, religious and criminal tactic for thousands of years. Initially, acts were local and non-networked, and involved few people. Over time, capabilities increased and acts became more violent, destructive and global. Today, we are seeing the proliferation of biological, chemical, radiological and nuclear weapons of mass destruction (WMD). This chapter will review the history of terrorism, the devastation of the great plagues, and how the use of WMD by both nations and non-state actors in the past offers insight into how they might be used in the future. The history and consequences of terrorism, as well as local, regional and national responses to acts of terrorism, including the resultant societal disruption, are the focus of this chapter.
