04-01-2004, 03:31 AM
Antoninus,<br>
<br>
You might want to check out the book "Catastrophe" by David Keys. He offers the theory that an enormous volcanic eruption in the mid-6th century caused environmental changes all over the globe, altering the course of human history. His evidence is quite compelling.<br>
<br>
<br>
Arpvar,<br>
<br>
Actually, I don't think I said that the Antonine plague was the first evidence of disease in the Roman army. Disease in Roman history was certainly not unknown, and was probably relatively common, especially in areas where large numbers of people lived close together, like cities or military camps. Livy mentions I believe some eleven cases of serious disease outbreak beginning in 387 BC. But the Antonine Plague initiated a new age of recurring pestilential epidemic that was completely outside Roman experience, resulting in continuous population decay that was to last for 500 years.<br>
<br>
Gregg<br>
<p></p><i></i>
<br>
You might want to check out the book "Catastrophe" by David Keys. He offers the theory that an enormous volcanic eruption in the mid-6th century caused environmental changes all over the globe, altering the course of human history. His evidence is quite compelling.<br>
<br>
<br>
Arpvar,<br>
<br>
Actually, I don't think I said that the Antonine plague was the first evidence of disease in the Roman army. Disease in Roman history was certainly not unknown, and was probably relatively common, especially in areas where large numbers of people lived close together, like cities or military camps. Livy mentions I believe some eleven cases of serious disease outbreak beginning in 387 BC. But the Antonine Plague initiated a new age of recurring pestilential epidemic that was completely outside Roman experience, resulting in continuous population decay that was to last for 500 years.<br>
<br>
Gregg<br>
<p></p><i></i>
