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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The Dark Side of Roman Urbanization
- The Roman Empire, surprisingly, was detrimental to public health.
- High urban density and limited sanitation facilitated infectious disease spread.
Infrastructure and Infection
- Roman infrastructure, while impressive, inadvertently worsened disease transmission.
- Roads and shipping lanes facilitated the spread of germs from across the empire and beyond.
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.
