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Between 166 and 266 AD the Roman Empire was hit by two separate plagues, each one nearly as deadly as the more famous Black Death of the Middle Ages.
The first one, known as the Antonine Plague lasted eighteen years and killed millions of people all over the empire. It may have even killed the famous Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher and soldier, last of the Good Emperors.
The second Plague broke out in 251 AD and raged for fifteen years right in the middle of the dreadful 3rd Century Crisis which it may well have started or at least deepened.
It is believed that the two diseases were Smallpox and Measles, both virulent killers though which order they came in is not known.
This carnage may have unbalanced Classical Civilization: physically by removing taxpayers, workers and recruits necessary to maintain the Roman Social Order and it's army at their accustomed level; and psychologically by showing the helplessness of its rulers and religions in the face of catastrophe. This might well have caused millions of bereaved survivors to turn away from Paganism to Christianity and similar other-worldly religions and philosophies.
Their effects lasted for centuries and the population of the Mediterranean World fell for about 800 years before recovery began.
By killing more Romans than Barbarians and Civil Wars combined, by an order of magnitude, these catastrophes may have been the trigger for the fall of Rome and the eclipse of Classical Civilization.
Given what we know of the ravages of Smallpox on the Indian inhabitants of the Americas after 1492, where death rates are estimated at 80-90% of effected populations, this seems all too likely; although it seems the Roman death-rate was more in the vicinity of 33-50%.
No culture, especially one with such a low level of technology--it is not widely appreciated how primitive Classical technology was, even in comparison to the Middle Ages--could hope to survive a disaster of this magnitude.
The clincher was an outbreak of Bubonic Plague, the Plague of Justinian starting 541 AD, which ravaged the Mediterranean World about half a century after the Fall of Rome. This paved the way for the Rise of Islam and by dividing the Mediterranean World permanently between two hostile religions, ensured that nothing like the Roman Empire could never exist again.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoThe plague caused the deaths of two Roman Emperors Lucius Verus [169AD] and Marcus Aurelius Antoninus [180 AD] whose family name was given to the epidemic "Antonine Plague" and caused 5.000.000 deaths.
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoYes there were many plagues in the history of the Roman Empire. However, in those days the term plague referred to any pandemic. The worst ones were the Antonine Plague (165-180), which is thought to have been an outbreak of smallpox or measles, and the Plague of Justinian (541-542), which was actually an outbreak of bubonic plague.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoNo. It was several hundred years before the first outbreak of plague began.
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What kind fo government did the Roman Empire have under Trarquinius Superbus?
Monarcy
What did roman empire men wear?
togas. robe kind of things wraped around
What kind of effect did plagues have on the roman empire?
There were several outbreaks of plague in the empire of which the most famous was the Antonin Plague which occurred during Marcus Aurelius. While fighting in the east, Marcus' army picked up the plague and carried is back to the west. The terrible decease had a harrowing effect on the empire. There were lack of harvests, hunger was a common problem, there were to few men in the army which brought to severe barbarian invasions. Other plagues had similar effects.
What kind of government is the Islamic Empire?
There is no Islamic Empire.
What kind of people lived in Mesopotamia?
people such as the Persians, Babylonians, Persia changed its name to Iran in 1935, and modern day countries partially in mesopotamia are turkey, Iraq, and syria. mesopotamia has also been occupied by Alexander's empire (The greek empire), the roman empire, and the byzantine empire.
What kind of government did Nero live in?
The Roman Empire.
Which empire renamed judaea palestine as a kind of punishment after crushing a Jewish revolt?
The Roman empire.
What kind of government did the roman empire have under trarquinius superbus?
Monarchy
What kind of nationality does Jesus have?
He is Jewish. At the time he lived, he was a citizen of the Roman Empire.
What kind fo government did the Roman Empire have under Trarquinius Superbus?
Monarcy
What bodies surrounded the roman empire?
You need to specify which kind of bodies you are referring to.
Who were the three leaders sharing power called?
It kind of depends where and when. In the Roman Empire, they would have been called a triumvirate. In Russia, the term troika (which means three of a kind) might be used instead.
What kind of empire did Mussolini want to create during world war two?
He wanted to create a new Roman Empire.
Were the roman empire kind and friendly?
no they werent. they beat everyone who lived in rome with whips.
What did roman empire men wear?
togas. robe kind of things wraped around
What kind of effect did plagues have on the roman empire?
There were several outbreaks of plague in the empire of which the most famous was the Antonin Plague which occurred during Marcus Aurelius. While fighting in the east, Marcus' army picked up the plague and carried is back to the west. The terrible decease had a harrowing effect on the empire. There were lack of harvests, hunger was a common problem, there were to few men in the army which brought to severe barbarian invasions. Other plagues had similar effects.
How were the gladiators chosen and what kind of people became Gladiators?
They were defeated armies drafted as slaves to the Roman Empire.
