Tom and Dominic are joined by friend of the show Kyle Harper to discuss how pandemics and disease played a far greater role in the decline of the Roman Empire than previously understood.On the show Kyle, Dominic, and Tom discuss life expectancy, how the Roman Empire was ‘bad for people’s health', the Antonine Plague, and more.Listen to our previous episodes with Kyle:146. Disease vs. the rise of civilisation147. Disease, the New World and modern pandemicsJoin The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kyle Harper, Professor of Classics at the University of Oklahoma, discusses the impact of climate change and disease on the fall of the Roman Empire. Topics include the decline in trade and resources, the role of paleoclimatic and genomic evidence, the relationship between waves of plague and archaeological genome data, and the vulnerability of the empire's trade system.

Historian Kyle Harper discusses the fall of the Roman empire, focusing on climate, disease, and scientific discoveries. From epidemics to climatic changes, he reveals how environmental stress contributed to Rome's disintegration. The podcast explores the interconnectedness of climate, disease, and historical events in shaping Rome's fate.