jjares reviewed The Byzantine Empire and the Plague: The History and Legacy of the Pandemic that Ravaged the Byzantines in the Early Middle Ages on + 3275 more book reviews
This book clarifies the Plagues that decimated Europe over the ages. The First Plague Pandemic occurred in the 6th century. The second wave of deaths was called the Black Death (starting in 1350); while the last pandemic started in 1855 and lasted until about 1960. The plague was not entirely dormant between these outbreaks. Surprisingly, outbreaks occur still, but with medical intervention, they are contained.
One statistic the book offered is shocking. Rome's population in the 1st century CE was 1.5 million. After barbarian attacks, economic distress, and the plague, (by 590 CE) there were about 20,000 souls remaining.
This book explains that the Plague of Justinian (essentially The First Plague) and the Black Death Plague essentially burned out when it killed all of the hosts (rats and fleas) and had no more to inhabit. The description of the land after everyone died or ran to the hills to live until it was safe to return, is eerie (there is no sound of whistling, no one walking, more corpses than the eye could comprehend, animals took refuge in human homes). It is not hard to understand that people thought they were being punished for their sins with this awful curse (that returned from time-to-time). Very interesting. I thought a timeline with the various areas and plagues marked, would have helped guide the reader. 4.5 stars
One statistic the book offered is shocking. Rome's population in the 1st century CE was 1.5 million. After barbarian attacks, economic distress, and the plague, (by 590 CE) there were about 20,000 souls remaining.
This book explains that the Plague of Justinian (essentially The First Plague) and the Black Death Plague essentially burned out when it killed all of the hosts (rats and fleas) and had no more to inhabit. The description of the land after everyone died or ran to the hills to live until it was safe to return, is eerie (there is no sound of whistling, no one walking, more corpses than the eye could comprehend, animals took refuge in human homes). It is not hard to understand that people thought they were being punished for their sins with this awful curse (that returned from time-to-time). Very interesting. I thought a timeline with the various areas and plagues marked, would have helped guide the reader. 4.5 stars
