Premium
Plagues, climate change, and the end of an empire. A response to Kyle Harper's The Fate of Rome (2) : P lagues and a crisis of empire
Author(s) -
Haldon John,
Elton Hugh,
Huebner Sabine R.,
Izdebski Adam,
Mordechai Lee,
Newfield Timothy P.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
history compass
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.121
H-Index - 1
ISSN - 1478-0542
DOI - 10.1111/hic3.12506
Subject(s) - plague (disease) , history , narrative , outbreak , roman empire , theme (computing) , empire , psychology , ancient history , classics , art , medicine , literature , computer science , virology , operating system
This is the second of a three‐section review of Kyle Harper's The Fate of Rome in which we examine in detail Harper's treatment of two allegedly widespread and mortal Roman outbreaks of disease. In the case of the second‐century Antonine plague, we demonstrate that Harper overlooked a major controversy and instead portrayed an oversimplified narrative of a catastrophic event. In the case of the third‐century Cyprianic plague, we call attention to several glaring methodological issues in Harper's treatment of the episode, point out the absence of corresponding evidence in the papyri, and cast doubt on the linkage previously drawn between the plague and archaeology.