01-29-2007, 11:06 AM
Hi Vortigern.
I don't know where in Italy. From what I can glean, the whole subject has been largely been bypassed by research. Sources such as Jordanes simply say 'plague'. Much of the medical research, and what historical research has been done, simply add these sources together and concur that it fits with the pattern of the spread of the black death, concluding that these outbreaks are part of the spread of the Justinian plague.
There are books such as Justinian's Flea: Plague, Empire, and the Birth of Europe by Rosen who may give more detail, but I haven't read them.
As far as I can tell, one of the problems is that, in latin, the term often used is 'mortality', which can be applied to famine too. I agree that it isn't satisfactory to simply conclude that, as a lot of people talk about it, it must be true, especially when sources may just be drawing on other sources. But, if it is true, it may be a factor worth considering.
best
Harry Amphlett
I don't know where in Italy. From what I can glean, the whole subject has been largely been bypassed by research. Sources such as Jordanes simply say 'plague'. Much of the medical research, and what historical research has been done, simply add these sources together and concur that it fits with the pattern of the spread of the black death, concluding that these outbreaks are part of the spread of the Justinian plague.
There are books such as Justinian's Flea: Plague, Empire, and the Birth of Europe by Rosen who may give more detail, but I haven't read them.
As far as I can tell, one of the problems is that, in latin, the term often used is 'mortality', which can be applied to famine too. I agree that it isn't satisfactory to simply conclude that, as a lot of people talk about it, it must be true, especially when sources may just be drawing on other sources. But, if it is true, it may be a factor worth considering.
best
Harry Amphlett
Harry Amphlett
