How This Mega Volcano Caused A Deadly Plague That Swept The Roman Empire

The catastrophic volcanic eruption of 535 AD, likely Krakatoa, had far-reaching impacts on global climate and human history. This documentary explores how the eruption caused drastic environmental changes, leading to widespread crop failures, famine, and societal upheaval. Through scientific analysis and historical evidence, it connects this climatic catastrophe to the outbreak of the Antonine Plague, demonstrating how a single natural event reshaped civilizations, decimated populations, and set the stage for one of history's deadliest pandemics. Join us on a journey uncovering the interconnectedness of nature's fury and human suffering.

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[medicwebber]

This was a VERY well done documentary. Congratulations to David Keys for what must have been _years_ of hard work to come to such a comprehensive understanding of the global effects of 1 single event. Impressive work!

[FloozieOne]

This was absolutely fascinating. I learned a lot of history in particular how the various cultures existed in the same time frames. If one (really big) volcano could literally cause the entire world to change so drastically think what would happen if something similar happened today.

[kathrynsmith]

Not well know in Med Science History - I knew working at NIH-Bethesda, MD at time of Mt. St. Helens' eruption - NIH sent medical research scientists to Mt. St. Helen's to investigate eruption's impact on med health. The eruption caused two new virus mutations researched & labeled in NIH research archives.

[stefanie]

I didn’t realize how far our knowledge of this event had come in 30 years. Wow!

[NG-fkwc]

Two thousand million is the most British way to say 2 billion 😂

[donaldcarey]

Krakatoa does NOT lie off the coast of Indonesia, it IS part of Indonesia.

[Dovietail]

Interestingly, "years without a summer" are great news for that year's crop of saguaro seedlings. Bumper crops of massive same-aged cacti can often be traced back to volcanism somewhere in the world.

[worldadventuretravel]

"Greed for ivory is what brought the roof in" in Constantinople. [15:13] Damn if that doesn't tell you that the main flaw in human societies at mass scale has never changed, even thousands of years later. And so incredible that one single 'act of God' reverberated around the world to such an extent.

[amywebb]

I love how people with a British accent say "laboratory" it sounds so classy & sinister at the same time.

[UATU.]

I always get interested in the first few minutes before recognizing the office of a hoarder. Not a bad doc, but it gets uploaded so often (w different thumbnail) it’s bizarre.

[Magik]

Abrupt climate change will also bring deadly plagues as the permafrost continues to melt and as organisms and viruses that have been frozen for thousands of years are released.

[kaarlimakela]

This is s scientifically a fresher look at that whole phenomenal set of disasters than I have seen up until now.

[bill]

Good insight about how to plague started and spread

[MissBlueEyeliner]

Oh wow. That “super computer” is a throwback!

[DrinkTheKoolAid]

This eruption likely caused the migration of Polynesian peoples to New Zealand

[shyft]

when was this first published, 1995? edit: I dont mind, but I think you should be clear about it

[kaarlimakela]

We have the technology to monitor, detect, and forecast so many disasters, and scientists have been diligent to warn us at every step through the decades.
Most of us would love to see the smartest people come up with real survival plans. There are new ways to grow and produce good food, so much yet to be explored in a system stuck in its ways.
The worst snag in all this has always been the greedy and scheming power players alwaysusing the needs of people as grounds for manipulation.

[michaelogden]

Correlation does not necessarily imply causation.

[Catastropheshe]

14:21 almost a poetic justice - greed bring the plague

[tml]

I'm wondering if this was on the learning channel back in the late 90's