Impact of disease on political systems from "summary" of The Fate of Rome by Kyle Harper
The ravages of disease have often been underestimated in their impact on the fate of empires. Plagues have the power to disrupt entire political systems, from the highest echelons of power to the most basic functions of society. In ancient Rome, the Antonine Plague of the second century AD serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of even the most powerful civilizations to the whims of infectious diseases. The Antonine Plague, believed to be smallpox or measles, spread like wildfire across the Roman Empire, decimating populations and leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. The plague struck at a time when the Empire was already facing significant challenges, both internally and externally. The political system of Rome was ill-equipped to handle the scale of the disaster, leading to widespread panic and confusion am...
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