Migration patterns and disease transmission from "summary" of The Fate of Rome by Kyle Harper
The movement of people across vast distances in the ancient world was a powerful force shaping the destiny of societies. As populations migrated, they carried with them not only their cultural practices and traditions but also their diseases. These migration patterns were instrumental in the transmission of infectious diseases, facilitating the spread of pathogens from one region to another. The Roman Empire, with its extensive network of roads and sea routes, was particularly vulnerable to the dissemination of diseases through migration. As people traveled for trade, conquest, or simply to seek a better life, they unknowingly brought with them a host of infectious agents. The movement of soldiers, merchants, and slaves across the empire created opportunities for pathogens to jump from one population to another, sparking epidemics that could devastate entire communities. One of the most notorious examples of d...
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