Plague Research
Origins and Spread of the Epidemic
An epidemic of a fatal disease caused the most devastating blow to the well-being of Roman society. The occurrence and expansion of the plague are associated with the history of the Parthian War of 161-166. The first reported cases of infection were registered during the Roman conquest and sacking of Seleucia on the Tigris in the winter of 165-166 (Berche 2022: 44). Soldiers returning from the battle introduced the plague to the empire. Thus, the Antonine plague’s consequences influenced the Roman Empire’s decline.
Clinical Features and Galen’s Observations
Information on the clinical features of the epidemic is limited and scattered. The primary source is the notes of the famous Roman physician, Galen. Galen was in Rome in 166 when the first cases of the disease were observed in Rome and then witnessed repeated outbreaks of the epidemic at Aquileia in 168-169 and subsequent recurrences (Galen 2016: 36). Galen attributed the disease to a disharmony of internal body fluids and was convinced that the cure could be achieved by removing excess fluid from the body through the rash and blisters (Galen 2016: 40). Moreover, purulent blisters accompanied the rash, and symptoms included fever, vomiting, gastrointestinal problems, diarrhea, bad breath, and cough.
Demographic, Social, and Economic Consequences
The consequences of the epidemic were catastrophic for the Roman Empire’s population. Between 166 and 169, about a quarter of the Eastern Legions and about a fifth of the Danube Army died of the epidemic (Duncan-Jones 2018: 50). The largest megacities, with several hundred thousand people each, suffered particularly heavy losses among the civilian population. In Rome, the disease claimed the lives of about 2,000 people daily.
Consequently, between 7 and 10 million people fell victim to the epidemic between 166 and 189. As a result, it had a serious social and economic impact on the state (Sidebottom 2020: 14). The Antonine plague, along with a series of other epidemics, started the collapse of the Roman Empire in the West. This can be explained by the fact that the plague outbreak in 166 A.D. had a high mortality rate.
As a result, most soldiers died in the Antonine plague. Ordinary peasants were recruited into their ranks (Aristides 1968: 52). Therefore, the Roman Empire’s defense capability deteriorated significantly. The involvement of peasants in the army led to a decrease in food production and city management.
The Antonine Plague’s Role in the Decline of the Roman Empire
Hence, the Antonine plague seriously affected the Roman Empire and caused a significant mortality rate among the population. As a result, it became the main reason for the decline of the Roman Empire due to the inability to assemble a trained army and fight off barbarian invasions. Additionally, the population decline led to the alienation of peasants and ordinary people in the field, which negatively affected the economic and social situation of the empire. Accordingly, the Antonine plague was the primary factor that weakened the Roman Empire and led to its fall.
Annotated Bibliography
Aristides, Aelius, 1968. The Sacred Tales, edited by Charles Allison Behr, Amsterdam: A.M. Hakkert.
This book is a compilation of the testimonies of Aelius Aristides, which is the primary source for explaining the impact of the Antonine plague on society and the state. Aelius Aristides provides testimony and data on a large number of deaths and the rapid spread of the disease throughout the Roman Empire. Meanwhile, Aelius Aristides assesses the impact of Aelius Aristides on the decline of the Roman Empire, as manifested in social and economic changes (Aristides 1968: 52). The book provides an insight into Aelius Aristides’ vision of the negative impact of the Antonine plague on the fall of the Roman Empire.
Berche, Patrick, 2022. “Life and Death of Smallpox,” La Presse Médicale 51: 1-10.
The article examines the pathogen that caused the spread of the Antonine plague and the progress of the epidemic. The author indicates that the first smallpox epidemic swept through the Roman Empire in the 2nd century A.D. and damaged not only the welfare of the state but also took the lives of many people (Berche 2022: 2). The article also provides an overview of seasonal diseases after the impact of the Antonine plague in the ancient world diminished.
Duncan-Jones, Richard, 2018. “The Antonine Plague Revisited,” Arctos–Acta Philologica Fennica 52: 41-72.
In this article, the author provides a complete chronological description of the events during the Antonine plague in the Roman Empire. Accordingly, the article briefly describes the pathogens, the spread of the epidemic, and the influence of the Antonine plague on various segments of the population. Particular attention is paid to the plague’s growth in the army, which led to the loss of the best soldiers (Duncan-Jones 2018: 43). The author emphasizes that this significantly weakened the position of the Roman Empire and, together with its social and economic effects, resulted in its decline.
Galen, 2016. On the Constitution of the Art of Medicine, A Method of Medicine to Glaucon, The Art of Medicine. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
The author lived in the Roman Empire and witnessed the Antonine plague; consequently, the book contains a description of the symptoms, progression, and mortality during the active stage of the Antonine plague. Gale states that the cause of the disease is an imbalance of internal body fluids, and the illness can be treated by draining the wounds (Galen 2016: 64). The author argues the causes of the disease and the main symptoms, and suggests one of the first methods of treatment.
Sidebottom, Harry, 2020. “Fire from Innermost Depths: How the Ancients Experienced Plague,” Times Literary Supplement 6116: 10-14.
The author explains the evolution of the plague and the implications of the Antonine plague for the residents of the Roman Empire. The consequences of the epidemic were catastrophic for the population of the Roman Empire. The article mentions that the inhabitants of important cities suffered the most, and this led to the extinction of even these areas (Sidebottom 2020: 14). Consequently, the rapid spread of the plague led to massive mortality, which in turn had a negative influence on the social and economic aspects.