Once again, with limited knowledge of disease spread, the Antonine Plague wreaked havoc throughout the Roman Empire. The Physician Galen (from whom the plague’s second name is derived: the Plague of Galen) was able to describe the symptoms: fever, diarrhea, inflammation of pharynx (pharyngitis), and skin eruptions[1]. Regardless, millions fell victim to the pandemic, including Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, whose family name was associated with the deadly disease. By the end of the pandemic, which is now thought to have been smallpox, 5 million people had died, about 10% of the population of the Roman Empire.
The disease had great long-term effects. Due to great amounts of troops battling with the disease, the Parthians were able to gain influence over some Eastern Roman territories. The Romans also had a tougher time dealing with the advance of Germans and Gauls, who came southward in search of more land. According to Barthold Niebuhr, the changes in classical literature and art and other aspects of the Roman Empire associated with the reign of Marcus Aurelius were caused by this plague. Truly, the Antonine Plague brought great devastation to Rome and weakened the power of the Roman Empire.
gave vivid descriptions of the plague. Fever, diarrhea, and paralysis of limbs were among the many symptoms. In its years of devastation, tens of thousands of lives were claimed, including two emperors: Hostilian and Claudius II Gothicus. The plague weakened Roman defense and depleted the food supply as farmers abandoned fields. In fact, the pandemic had led the Roman Empire to the verge of collapse. Only the feats of later emperors were able to save the empire from this calamity.
Byzantine Empire, which was ruled by Justinian at the time. The theme of limited knowledge arose again. Among the few measures taken was staying away from the sick. The sick employed either physicians, who practiced humorism, or home remedies. The plague claimed the lives of 30 to 50 million people. This number included 20-40% of the population of Constantinople, the capital, and a quarter of the population of the whole Byzantine Empire. The economy and agriculture went downhill. The Byzantine army was greatly weakened. The Empire lost to the Lombards in Italy, leaving Italy fractured until the 19th Century, and the Arabs in North Africa and the Near East. The plague would linger for the next few centuries.
The Cyprian Plague (250 - 270 AD)
This disease arose from Ethiopia and made its way to the Roman Empire within a year. Once again, limited knowledge meant lim-ited success in stopping spread. People tried to slow the spread “by covering the corpses with lime as well as burning the bodies.”[2] St. Cyprian, after whom the plague was named, gave vivid descriptions of the plague. Fever, diarrhea, and paralysis of limbs were among the many symptoms. In its years of devastation, tens of thousands of lives were claimed, including two emperors: Hostilian and Claudius II Gothicus. The plague weakened Roman defense and depleted the food supply as farmers abandoned fields. In fact, the pandemic had led the Roman Empire to the verge of collapse. Only the feats of later emperors were able to save the empire from this calamity.
St. Cyprian
Justinian Plague (541 - 542 AD)
This plague was one of the early pandemics caused by Yersinia pestis, the bacteria that caused the infamous Black Death. Originating in China and Northeast India, the plague spread to the Great Lakes of Africa. From there, it spread to Egypt, Palestine, and eventually the whole Mediterranean Area, including the Byzantine Empire, which was ruled by Justinian at the time. The theme of limited knowledge arose again. Among the few measures taken was staying away from the sick. The sick employed either physicians, who practiced humorism, or home remedies. The plague claimed the lives of 30 to 50 million people. This number included 20-40% of the population of Constantinople, the capital, and a quarter of the population of the whole Byzantine Empire. The economy and agriculture went down-hill. The Byzantine army was greatly weakened. The Empire lost to the Lombards in Italy, leaving Italy fractured until the 19th Century, and the Arabs in North Africa and the Near East. The plague would linger for the next few centuries.
Emperor Justinian
Sources:
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonine_Plague
[2] https://www.ancient.eu/article/992/plague-of-cyprian-250-270-ce/
https://www.history.com/topics/middle-ages/pandemics-timeline
https://www.history.com/news/pandemics-end-plague-cholera-black-death-smallpox
https://www.ancient.eu/article/939/the-plague-at-athens-430-427-bce/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plague_of_Athens
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plague_of_Cyprian
https://www.ancient.eu/article/782/justinians-plague-541-542-ce/