How the Black Death Killed Rome - The Plague of Justinian DOCUMENTARY

In this history documentary we take a look at one of the most destructive pandemics of the ancient world. Thanks to modern science we have been able to identify its root cause, the Yersinia Pestis bacterium. The Black Death had come to Europe centuries before its more infamous Medieval visit.

We begin the episode with a brief discussion of disease in the ancient world. We then turn specifically to the nature of the Black Death. The documentary covers its life cycle in reservoir populations, its transmission by fleas, and its symptoms once in a host body. Once this context is established we turn to our historical record for the first record of its appearance. This occurred around 540 AD in Roman Egypt.

Our records tell us that it sprung up in the Roman fort of Pelusium on the eastern edge of the Nile Delta. Here the bacterium would infect the local rodent population which infested the grain depots and port facilities of Egypt. These then seem to have hitched a ride on one of the numerous outbound ships and been directly injected into the trade routes which were the bloodstream of the Roman Empire. The Plague then spread to all major port cities with a huge wave of destruction. The capitol of Constantinople was incredibly hard hit with even the Emperor being infected. The Plague struck the Byzantine Empire just as Belisarius was leading the legions to reconquer the west. It seems that this destabilizing attack crippled Rome's ability to press forward with the campaigns and doomed their efforts to bring about the rise of a new Roman Empire which stretched across the whole of the Mediterranean once more.

In the last portion of the documentary we then take a look at some of the scientific evidence which might better contextualize the impact of the Plague of Justinian.

Bibliography and Suggested Reading
Justinian's Flea: The First Great Plague and the End of the Roman Empire
The Justinian Plague: An inconsequential pandemic?
The Justinian Plague’s Devastating Impact Was Likely Exaggerated

[giangiorg]

I'm a school teacher in Greece and I was always irritated by the fact that, although byzantine history has a big part in the curriculum, school books don't even mention the Plague of Justinian. I mean, ok, the Italian campaign was a costly adventure for the empire but no-one can overlook an event that wiped out a big portion of the population as a major reason for the decline.

[sgauden]

The Plague Of Justinian literally broke out at the worst possible time. Just when Rome was in the process of restoring the empire to it's former glory. Justinian, and Belisarius came so close, but were stopped dead in their tracks by pure bad luck. If the plague hadn't happend, Rome would probably have been restored.

[davtash]

Invicta and Historia Civilis post new videos in a span of 24 hours? What have i done to deserve this?

[mg]

Interesting how plague both opened and closed the middle ages.

[_Ocariao]

Poor Justinian, what a bad luck for he and Belisaruis, after so much work to reconquest Rome...

[bo_]

i just realized the IRONY of studying history as a form of escapism (which i enjoy), because everything back then was worse. WAY worse.

[colinm]

As a history graduate, i think if this plague never happened, The Empire would have easily been able to retake the old lands. Millions of people back in 500AD is way more impactful than it is in 2021.

[danielblom]

*Humans be vibing, almost restoring Rome*

Plagues: "hello there"

[TheMrgoodmanners]

just a friendly addition to this. what precipitated the plague were cataclysmic volcanic events that occured in indonesia and south america which caused the precipitous cooling of the planet. europe had winters that extended well into the summers during this period, byzantium was blanketed by a fog for an entire year, the year 536AD has been termed the worst year to have been alive as a human being as a result. its quite possible the declines in elephant populations thus ivory in sub saharan africa was as a result of this event not the plague. this was the same period that marked the end of arthur's kingdom(I know I know), the demise of the great teotihuacan empire in mexico, collapse of the gupta empire etc it's said to have even precipitated the rise of islam as there was a devastating drought in the region around this period

[bradsmithy]

So, Rome died because there weren't enough cats??
*Laughs in egyptian*

[MyNameHere]

Can you imagine sitting in your home, watching people drag bodies across the walks. The corpse's feet are shredding from the rocks and ooze pours from great holes in the arms and neck. You watch this happen over and over, and yet despite this the air is filled with a literal deadly silence. There are no trumpets for these people's deaths. Just a quiet end and a nameless grave.

[deirdregibbons]

Excellent presentation. Beverly's artwork was really good at showing the fear and misery people were experiencing. She really gives her subjects such personality.

[jonathanwilliams]

the Plague can be found everywhere, even north America, and there are still people get it in the US, but it's no longer so bad due to antibiotics

[brandonpelch]

I’m a simple man, I see Invicta posts a video, I watch.

[ktheterkuceder]

Someone in ancient rome dies.
Ancient romans: such is life.

[TechnoMinarchist]

Aye without the plague the eastern empires reconqueat would have not been stopped in its path. As well as the volcanic eruption that happens a year later that shifted the climate making it really difficult to grow crops (and imo likely created the conditions for the plague to last so long).

[caesarshotdogchampion]

Attempt #7: What if Julius Caesar had survived Part 3

[nathanofthefranks]

Did you ever hear the tragedy of the Evolution of the Roman Legions: Part 1? I thought not. It’s not a story the Invicta would tell you. Evolution of the Roman Legions: Part 1 was the 1st part in a legendary series. He had such a knowledge of the Roman Kingdom that he could even keep part 2 from being uploaded. The legend states that there are some that are still waiting, hoping for part 2.

[flaviulus]

Your content is always excellent (with some inaccuracies from time to time but it's hard to uncover everything), keep it up!

[JohnnyWindmill]

Ahh yeah my man invicta is bringing the sauce