Elliott, Colin

Pox Romana: The Plague That Shook the Roman World (Turning Points in Ancient History)

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ISBN 13:
9780691219158
author:
Elliott, Colin
format:
Hardback
publisher:
Princeton University Press
language:
English
Publication Year:
2023
Pages:
328
Dimensions:
23.9 x 16.3 x 3.6 centimetres (0
Genre:
History, General, History,
Condition:
New
Availability:
Item usually sent within 10 working days
£25.19

Description

The Antonine Plague: A Turning Point in Roman History In the mid-2nd century AD, the Roman Empire was at the height of its power, with a vast territory stretching from Britain to Egypt. The Pax Romana, or Roman peace, seemed permanent. However, a sudden and mysterious sickness struck the legions, laying waste to cities, including Rome itself. This fast-spreading disease, known as the Antonine plague, may have been history's first pandemic. Historian Colin Elliott examines the evidence to show that the plague was not the sole cause of Rome's decline, but rather a symptom of deeper problems. Years before the pandemic, the Roman economy was sluggish, the military was bogged down in the Balkans and the Middle East, food insecurity led to riots and mass migration, and persecution of Christians intensified. The pandemic exposed the crumbling foundations of a doomed Empire, revealing a complex web of preexisting conditions that ultimately led to its downfall. Elliott's comprehensive account of the plague and its aftermath offers a nuanced understanding of this pivotal moment in Roman history, carefully balancing the available evidence to shed new light on a fascinating and complex period.

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