Often times, when we think of the middle ages, one of the first things that comes to mind is the Black Plague. While this was certainly an important, and devastating event, few people know that there was actually a bout of it around 800 years earlier. The two strains were caused by the same kind of microbe. Common symptoms included necrosis of the extremities, along with swollen lymph nodes. This medieval artwork depicts the boils which were also signature of the illness.
Called Justinian's Plague (named after Emperor Justinian I), it arrived in Constantinople in the year 542 CE. The disease was transmitted by the fleas on black rats, which came from Africa on ships containing grain. As the grain deliveries reached their destinations, so did the plague. Anywhere supplies went, from the coast and into the empire, so did the plague. When the grain was stored, it became the perfect breeding ground for the rats, which in turn infected people. Even other animals like dogs and cats were affected. People went to priests for healing, as shown in this painting, but to no avail. And with no place to dispose of so many dead bodies, the disease only spread further. By the end, Justinian's Plague killed anywhere from 30-50 million people, with an average of 5,000-10,000 deaths per day. When it finally disappeared, the disease had killed approximately 25% of the population.
Next time you think of the Black Plague, remember it was actually the second of it's kind, and hope that there will never be a third!
Work Cited:
Than, Ker. "Two of History's Deadliest Plagues Were Linked, With Implications For Another Outbreak." National Geograpic, 2014. Web. Retrieved 06 September, 2017. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/01/140129-justinian-plague-black-death-bacteria-bubonic-pandemic/
Horgan, John."Justinian's Plague." Ancient History Encyclopedia, 2014. Web. Retrieved 06 September, 2017 http://www.ancient.eu/article/782/
That's interesting, I'm surprised this isn't more widely known considering the number of people it had affected
ReplyDeleteVery interesting article, I actually did not know this! I feel slightly embarrassed, because I wrote an essay on the Black Plague last year, and mistakenly called it the first strain. I do know, however, that it's still around! According to the CDC, between 1,000 and 2,000 cases are reported each year. I hope that number doesn't turn into another massive outbreak!
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