This book tackles the difficult challenge of uncovering the pathogenic cause, epidemiological mechanics and broader historical impacts of an extremely deadly third-century ancient Roman pandemic. The core of this research is embodied in a novel systems synthesis methodology that allows for ground-breaking historical-scientific problem-solving. Through precise historical and scientific problem-solving, analysis and modelling, the authors piece together a holistic puzzle portrait of an ancient plague that is fully consistent, in turn, with both the surviving ancient evidence and the latest in cutting edge twenty-first-century modern medical and molecular phylogenetic science. Demonstrating the broader relevance of the crisis-beset world of the third-century Roman Empire in providing guiding and cautionary historical lessons for the present, this innovative book provides fascinating insights for students and scholars across a range of disciplines.
Author(s): Mark Orsag, Amanda E. McKinney, DeeAnn M. Reeder
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 318
City: Cham
Acknowledgments
Contents
About the Authors
Abbreviations
List of Maps, Figures, Images, Graphs and Diagrams
List of Tables
1 Introduction
Part I “The Theory”: The Rediscovery and Reinterpretation of an Ancient Pandemic
2 The Ancient Evidentiary Foundations
The Fate of Rome’s Detractors—Analyzing the Ancient Evidentiary Foundations
References
3 A Most Difficult Source and the Relevance of Climatic Circumstances
Our Initial Analysis of the Dionysius/Eusebius Account
Historiographical Background and Summary of Dr. Sabine Huebner’s Analysis of Dionysius/Eusebius’ Account
Our Rebuttal to Dr. Sabine Huebner’s Conclusions Concerning the Dating of “The Pestilence Which Came Upon Them”
References
Part II “The What and the How”: Underlying Differential Virology, Molecular Phylogenetics, Host Species Ecology and Biogeographical Presence
4 Retrospective and Differential Pathogen Diagnosis
The Marburg Virus Evolutionary Lineage and the Plague of Cyprian
References
5 Of Bats and Empires: The Egyptian Rousette Bat and the Kingdom of Aksum
The Kingdom of Aksum and the Roman Empire in the First–Third Centuries
References
6 Modeling an Ancient Zoonotic Outbreak
References
Part III “The Why”: Projected MARV Lineage Epidemiology and Pathology in the Third Century Roman Empire
7 Guardrail Modeling: Geographical Dissemination Pathways and the Urban Epidemiological Setting
Modeled Spatial Epidemiology of the Maritime Environment in the Roman Third Century
Guardrail Modeling–Broader Epidemiological Contexts
References
8 Exploration of Modeled Urban Epidemiology Concluded and Analysis of the Contrasting Epidemiological Situation in the Imperial Countryside
Macro Urban Epidemiological Modeling: The Alleged 5,000 Deaths a Day During the Gallienic Outbreak in Rome—262 CE
Micro Urban Outbreak Modeling: The Spatial Epidemiology of the Baths of Caracalla
Plotinus, Cyprian, Dionysius/Eusebius and the Re of Hanina bar Hama
The Plague of Cyprian in the Rural Empire
References
9 The Plague of Cyprian: Timelines, Outlines, and Parameters
The Fragmentary Chronology of a Pestilence, 251–270 CE (Part 1)
Numismatic and Archaeological Evidence from Brigetio: A Possible Filovirus “Ville Morte Event” Microcosm of the Impact of the Plague of Cyprian?
The Fragmentary Chronology of a Pestilence, 251–270 CE (Part II)
Why Did the Plague of Cyprian End in the Early 260 s CE?
References
Part IV “Conclusion—Final Thoughts on the Plague of Cyprian”: Methodological Defense and Brief Overview of Our “Solution”, Historical Context and Current Relevance
10 Situating the Plague of Cyprian Within the Broader Outlines of Roman History
Brief Historiographical Positioning, Methodological Defense, and Overview
Methodological defense—The Challenges of “Thucydides Syndrome”
Historical Holistic Context
References
11 Modern Relevance of the Plague of Cyprian
References
Index
