The Rest Is History 217. Plague and the decline of the Roman Empire
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Aug 4, 2022 
In this engaging discussion, Kyle Harper, a renowned Professor of Classics and History, sheds light on the underestimated role of pandemics in the Roman Empire's decline. He examines the Antonine Plague and its impact on life expectancy while claiming urbanization paradoxically harmed public health. Migration's role in spreading diseases like the Plague of Cyprian is also highlighted, alongside the transformative societal changes brought about by recurring epidemics. Harper's insights unravel how these health crises reshaped the empire and influenced religious thought.
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Trade and Disease
- The Roman Empire's trade routes created dangerous intersections of disease.
- Central Asia and Africa, linked by trade, were breeding grounds for lethal pathogens.
The Antonine Plague's Impact
- The Antonine Plague was likely the deadliest pandemic in human history up to that point.
- It was so widespread and virulent that it shocked the Roman world.
Plague of Cyprian and the Third Century Crisis
- The Plague of Cyprian, less famous than the Antonine Plague, may have been a filovirus.
- This plague coincided with the Crisis of the Third Century, suggesting a possible link.
