Reference no: EM133569707
Citation to use: The Justinianic Plague BY: Kristina Sessa
The "Justinianic Plague" is the popular name for a pandemic of bubonic plague in the Late Roman or Byzantine Empire, which first appears in our sources in 541 CE. The pandemic reappeared in waves in different regions over the next two hundred years, ending ca. 750 CE. We call it the "Justinianic" plague because the first outbreak corresponds with the reign of the Emperor Justinian (r. 526-565 CE). Justinian, who resided in the imperial capital of Constantinople, was himself reportedly a casualty of the disease, although he did not die from it. Because there have been multiple pandemics of bubonic plague in history, scholars sometimes refer to the Justinianic Plague as the "First Plague Pandemic" so as to distinguish it from the "Second Plague Pandemic" in the fourteenth century (also known as the "Black Death") and the "Third Plague Pandemic" in the nineteenth century.
Scholars still debate precisely where the Justinianic Plague originated. Our literary sources place its origins in Africa, but other evidence suggests that it likely came from Central Asia.
In fact, bubonic plague is an extremely old disease, and scientists have detected the DNA of the pathogen that causes it-the bacterium Yersinia pestis-in the remains of late Neolithic-era humans (4500-2000 BCE).
We know that the plague first hit cities in the southeastern Mediterranean, and moved swiftly through the Levant to the imperial capital of Constantinople, where it was first reported in 541 CE. From there, it spread westward through regions of the former Roman Empire, reaching as far north as Germany and Britain.
In the past, scholars thought that rats were the primary "vectors" of the disease-meaning that they were the animals that carried the fleas, which act as hosts to the bacteria, which in turn infected humans. However, we now think that humans, who can also carry fleas and lice, spread the disease to each other directly rather than rats.
We are fortunate to have several eyewitness accounts of the Justinianic Plague, including two highly detailed descriptions of the disease, which also depict the plague's social and economic impact on the infected community.
Our best historical source is Procopius of Caesarea (in modern Israel), a high official in the Roman government, who lived in Constantinople during the first wave of plague from 542-543 CE. Procopius offers many insights into the plague's causes and symptoms, describing the telltale buboes, or swollen lymph nodes, as well as its extensive death toll and its social and psychological impact.
Another great plague source is John of Ephesus (in modern Turkey), a Christian bishop living in Syria who lived at the same time as Procopius. He wrote about the plague in Palestine and Syria, and his narrative aligns with Procopius' account in interesting ways; it's clear that they are both discussing the same disease.
Answer the following questions: 250 to 350 words with one citation from the text above:
1. What were the main symptoms of the bubonic plague? How did it seem to spread and what areas were the hardest hit?