Famine and Pestilence in the Late Roman and Early Byzantine Empire: A Systematic Survey of Subsistence Crises and Epidemics (Birmingham Byzantine and Ottoman Studies)

Famine and pestilence must have been a recurring nightmare from late antiquity onwards. The author cites a Margaret Atwood essay in which she suggests that all narrative writing is motivated deep down by a fear and fascination with mortality. He explores the bleakness of late antiquity crises and epidemics. Famine and Pestilence in the Late Roman and Early Byzantine Empire presents the first analytical account in English of the history of subsistence crises and epidemic diseases in Late Antiquity. Based on a catalogue of all such events in the East Roman/Byzantine empire between 284 and 750, it gives an authoritative analysis of the causes, effects and internal mechanisms of these crises and incorporates modern medical and physiological data on epidemics and famines. Its interest is both in the history of medicine and the history of Late Antiquity, especially its social and demographic aspects. Stathakopoulos develops models of crises that apply not only to the society of the late Roman and early Byzantine world, but also to early modern and even contemporary societies in Africa or Asia. This study is therefore both a work of reference for information on particular events (e.g. the 6th-century Justinianic plague) and a comprehensive analysis of subsistence crises and epidemics as agents of historical causation. As such it makes an important contribution to the ongoing debate on Late Antiquity, bringing a fresh perspective to comment on the characteristic features that shaped this period and differentiate it from Antiquity and the Middle Ages Cover 1 Half Title 4 Title Page 6 Copyright Page 7 Contents 8 List of Tables 10 Preface and Acknowledgements 12 List of Abbreviations 14 Introduction: Negotiating with the Dead 16 PART I: TYPOLOGY OF CRISES 30 1 The Late Roman and Early Byzantine Empire 32 2 A Quantitative Overview 38 3 Subsistence Crises: Causes, Location, Duration and Range 50 Nature-induced Crises 51 Human-induced Crises 61 Duration, Location and Range 68 4 Social Response 72 Market Activity 72 Response of Authorities 77 Popular Reaction 85 5 Epidemic Diseases 103 Introduction 103 Smallpox 106 Infections of the Gastro-intestinal Tract 112 Other Infectious Diseases 115 Mass Poisonings 118 6 The Justinianic Plague 125 The Chronology of the Plague 128 The Epidemiology of the Plague 139 Was the Justinianic Plague a Pandemic of True Plague'? 159 Social Response 161 7 Results 170 Mortality 170 Shortage of Human Resources 178 8 Conclusion: 'History that Stands Still'? 181 PART II: CATALOGUE OF EPIDEMICS AND FAMINES FROM 284 TO 750 AD 190 9 Catalogue 192 Appendices 402 I. Measures and Currency 402 II. Famine Prices of Grain 404 Bibliography 410 Index 418 "This book presents the first analytical account in English of the history of subsistence crises and epidemic diseases in Late Antiquity. Based on an catalogue of all such events in the East Roman/Byzantine empire between 284 and 750, it gives an authoritative analysis of the causes, effects and internal mechanisms of these crises and incorporates modern medical and physiological data on epidemics and famines. Its interest is both in the history of medicine and the history of Late Antiquity, especially its social and demographic aspects. Dr. Stathakopoulos thus provides both a work of reference for information on particular events (e.g. the 6th-century Justinianic plague) and a comprehensive analysis of subsistence crises and epidemics as agents of historical causation. As such he makes an important contribution to the ongoing debate on Late Antiquity, bringing a fresh perspective to comment on the characteristic features that shaped this period and differentiate it from Antiquity and the Middle Ages."--BOOK JACKET. Introduction: Negotiating With The Dead -- Typology Of Crises -- The Late Roman And Early Byzantine Empire -- A Quantitative Overview -- Subsistence Crises: Causes, Location, Duration And Range -- Nature-induced Crises -- Human-induced Crises -- Duration, Location And Range -- Social Response -- Market Activity -- Response Of Authorities -- Popular Reaction -- Epidemic Diseases -- Smallpox -- Infections Of The Gastro-intestinal Tract -- Other Infectious Diseases -- Mass Poisonings -- The Justinianic Plague -- The Chronology Of The Plague -- The Epidemiology Of The Plague -- Was The Justinianic Plague A Pandemic Of 'true Plague'? -- Social Response -- Results -- Mortality -- Shortage Of Human Resources -- Conclusion: 'history That Stands Still'? -- Catalogue Of Epidemics And Famines From 284 To 750 Ad -- Catalogue -- Measures And Currency -- Famine Prices Of Grain. Dionysios Ch. Stathakopoulos. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The title above derives from Margaret Atwood's essay of the same name in which the author suggests that 'not just some, but all writing of the narrative kind, and perhaps all writing is motivated, deep down, by a fear of and a fascination with mortality.'