No Bubonic Plague in the ancient world?

[guy]

 

The bubonic plague is caused by Yersinia pestis (or simply Y. pestis). These murderous bacteria enter the body usually after an infected flea bite. 

I always wondered why the bubonic plague had less an impact on Ancient Rome than it did on the medieval world despite its presence for thousands of years.

The later medieval form of the bubonic plague was called the “Black Death.” It was estimated to have killed at least a third (to maybe more than half) of the European population between 1347-1352.
 

Strangely, we do not have good documentation of the bubonic plague in the ancient world till the Justinian plague (541-549 AD). Genetic analysis of the Y. pestis microbe that caused the Justinian plague was proven to be genetically different from the Y. pestis microbe of the later medieval bubonic plague.

The first article below suggests that a less virulent form of the infection existed for thousands of years before even the Justinian Plague.

Interestingly, before the Justinian Plague, the Greek physician Rufus of Ephesus (70-110 AD) briefly commented on a plague similar to the later plagues caused by Y. pestis (but apparently less deadly and contagious). (See below for more information about Rufus of Ephesus.)

Summary: Although the bubonic plague has existed for thousands of years, the genetically different strains of Yersinia pestis had different degrees of virulence and, therefore, different societal impacts.

Quote

“The oldest strain of Yersinia pestis -- the bacteria behind the plague that caused the Black Death, which may have killed as much as half of Europe's population in the 1300s -- has been found in the remains of a 5,000-year-old hunter-gatherer. A genetic analysis reveals that this ancient strain was likely less contagious and not as deadly as its medieval version. “

 

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/06/210629161338.htm

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plague_of_Justinian

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31303627/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23658525/

 

 

Quote

 

Originally Published December 17, 1960 | JAMA. 1960;174(16):2070- 2071.

Rufus (Fr. roux, redhead, redbeard), a common given name in Rome, of Ephesus (Asia Minor) has been described as the medical link between Hippocrates and Galen. Second in stature as a Greek physician, and in clinical acclaim surpassed only by his predecessor and his successor, he lived in the reign of Trajan (98-117 A. D.).

Remnants of his teachings were preserved by Oribasius, court physician to Emperor Julianus, a countryman and eclectic physician who lived in the fourth century A. D.

Paul of Aegina (625-690 A. D.) was also a chronicler of the writings of Rufus. Paul was the last of the Greek physicians who preserved the writings that had been compiled over the millennium. The description of the plague by Rufus, retold by Paul, recounts the environment in which it flourished, the symptoms and physical signs of the afflicted and the symptomatic treatment.

The works of Rufus were also translated into Arabic (J. A. M. A., June 4, 1960, p. 546) especially by Rhazes (865-929 A. D.). Gilbertus Anglicus (1180-1250 A. D.), believed to be the first Englishman to write about gout, quoted freely from Rufus. It is possible that Chaucer was referring to Rufus in his Doctour of Physic: “Well knew he the old Esculapius and Diuscorides, and Eekrisus (Rufus).”

 

 

Edited February 2 by guy

[Novosedoff]

The first time I read about how deeply Russia had been affected by the plague of the 14th century was actually when I came across a book by American historian Janet Martin. Attached is the page from her book that gives some estimate. 

Russia is currently among the top-10 countries worst affected by COVID.