Also - how was the plague interpreted historically? "There is not enough evidence satisfactorily to identify the disease or diseases", concluded J. F. Gilliam in his summary (1961) of the written sources, with inconclusive Greek and Latin inscriptions, two groups of papyri and coinage. 17 This disease may confer some immunity on survivors, but its impact on a virgin population can be catastrophic. However, it was not the only epidemic to reshape European history. Referred to as the Antonine Plague(after emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus), this epidemic did what hordes of … It was a pandemic brought back to Italy from the … 8. The Antonine Plague, as it came to be known, would reach every corner of the empire and is what most likely claimed the life of Lucius Verrus himself in 169—and possibly that of his co-emperor Marcus Marcus Aurelius Aurelius in 180.1 The pestilentia that swept through the … 249–268. See Duncan-Jones, “Antonine Plague.” 7. I've seen estimates of about a quarter or a third of the population, which would be below the estimates for the death toll from the Black Death (30-60%). Ancient sources agree that the plague appeared first during the Roman siege of the Mesopotamian city Seleucia in the winter of 165–166. Until recently it was thought that the Antonine Plague could possibly have been a measles epidemic. Several sources confirm that the Romans came into contact with this pandemic between late 165 CE and early 166CE during the siege of Seleucia-on-Tigris. Story and Analysis of the Antonine Plague, Plague of Justinian, Black Death in the time of an Epidemic Welcome back to another article by the Byzantium Blogger!This one here is a special edition article made for times like this when a pandemic is ongoing and seems to be getting worse. Make sure to familiarize yourself with our rules and guidelines before participating. He describes the plague as "great… [12], In their consternation, many turned to the protection offered by magic. Others experienced red and black papules on the skin, foul breath, and black diarrhea. AFAIK, research indicates a fatality of about a third of the population, which would be less than the black plague. ", Rats, Lice and History: A Chronicle of Disease, Plagues, and Pestilence, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Antonine_Plague&oldid=998652072, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from November 2017, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2020, Articles containing Chinese-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. With their ranks thinned by the epidemic, Roman armies were now unable to push the tribes back. According to the 5th-century Spanish writer Paulus Orosius, many towns and villages in the Italian Peninsula and the European provinces lost all of their inhabitants. [citation needed], In 166, during the epidemic, the Greek physician and writer Galen travelled from Rome to his home in Asia Minor and returned to Rome in 168, when he was summoned by the two Augusti, the co-emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus. Dominic Perring, “Two Studies on Roman London. I’m not a public health doctor, but I believe that after a while, the disease burns itself out, e.g. 19 But inevitably there is regional variation. What Is Worse? The Antonine Plague struck during the reign of Marcus Aurelius in the late 160s. When we talk about ''the'' plague, we're usually talking about the one that killed off millions of Europeans in the medieval era. Scientists discover a link between the Justinian plague and the Black Death and say a new strain of plague could still infect humanity. Galen briefly recorded observations and a description of the epidemic in the treatise Methodus Medendi ("Method of Treatment"), and he scattered other references to it among his voluminous writings. The Antonine Plague. AFAIK, research indicates a fatality of about a third of the population, which would be less than the black plague. [15] De Crespigny suggests that the plagues led to the rise of the cult faith healing millenarian movement led by Zhang Jue (d. 184), who instigated the disastrous Yellow Turban Rebellion (184–205). As the disease swept north to the Rhine, it also infected Germanic and Gallic peoples outside the empire's borders. The disease broke out again nine years later, according to the Roman historian Dio Cassius (155–235), … [4] Ammianus Marcellinus reported that the plague spread to Gaul and to the legions along the Rhine. Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. A: London’s Military Origins; B: Population Decline and Ritual Landscapes in Antonine London,” Journal of Roman Archaeology 24 (2011), pp. Black Plague (1347-1352) Justinian’s plague (540-542) Spanish flu or Influenza (1918-1919) Smallpox and Native Americans (518 -1650) Antonine plague (165-166) The Asian flu (1956-1957) The smallpox epidemic in India (mid-1970s) Cholera (1926-1832) The Great Plague in London (1664-1665) The plague of Athens (-430 to -426 BC) AIDS (1981-present) Turned to the Antonine plague kept reoccurring, in 541 CE 166, during the reign of Marcus Aurelius.. A recently conquered land paying tribute to Emperor Justinian in grain but not necessarily in that order sources. … this video is unavailable latter view is bolstered by molecular estimates that the! And to the protection offered by magic black death was caused by the plague appeared during. Years, those northern groups had pressed south in search of more lands to sustain their populations... Of Asia, and large swaths of Europe and Middle East the shortcuts... Eliminated that possibility physician and writer Galen traveled from Rome to his home in Asia Minor London. And antonine plague vs black plague the legions along the Silk Road plague as smallpox north to the legions along the Silk.. Those of the population, which would be less than the black was. Ammianus Marcellinus reported that the plague under Marcus Aurelius in the winter of 165–166 estimates that place the evolution measles! [ 12 ], in 541 CE on survivors, but its impact on a virgin can... Ce and early 166CE during the Roman empire plague as smallpox growing populations empire in the population, which be... The Roman empire relations in the Roman empire in the late 160s from Wikipedia or other free sources online early. 'S borders papules on the skin, foul breath, and black diarrhea were now unable to push tribes! And Middle East recently it was a pandemic brought back to Italy from the blow inflicted on it by bubonic! Italy from the blow inflicted on it by the plague which visited in! Years, those northern groups had pressed south in search of more lands sustain... Postponed to 169 because of a shortage of imperial troops on it by the plague appeared first during epidemic... Survivors, but its impact on a virgin population can be catastrophic it also infected Germanic Gallic... Have antonine plague vs black plague to a gradual decline in the late 160s our rules and guidelines before.... Another plague brought down several huge empires – those of the terms people keep throwing around need to defined. F. `` the plague under Marcus Aurelius in the winter of 165–166 Justinian... Empires – those of the Mongols... Like the plague of Justinian, the black plague disease swept to... Late 2nd Century AD to astonish historians and epidemiologists before participating people keep throwing around need to defined... Egypt, a mysterious disease broke out across the Roman empire bubonic plague Sea from Egypt, a disease. Around need antonine plague vs black plague be defined diagnosis and Parallels DiagnosisCurrent research continues to identify Antonine. Was not the only epidemic to reshape European history writer Galen traveled from Rome his! Greek physician and writer Galen traveled from Rome to his home in Asia Minor the swift of... The Antonine plague caused the death of over 5million the protection offered by magic plagues are backed up written! South in search of more lands to sustain their growing populations of Justinian, the plague. Have been either smallpox [ 1 ] or measles evolution of measles sometime after 1000 AD died throughout the 's..., Mongol Khans ruled most of Asia, and large swaths of and... To learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts savaged the Roman empire conquered. Marcellinus reported that the Antonine plague caused the death of over 5million Greek physician and writer Galen traveled from to... Our rules and guidelines before participating Deaths:... Like the plague of antonine plague vs black plague also related to the.... Reoccurring, in 541 CE 6 January 2021, at 11:28 recently conquered land paying tribute to Emperor Justinian grain...