Pox Romana: The Plague That Shook the Roman World

by Colin Elliott Narrated by Cassandra Campbell

Overview

This audiobook narrated by Cassandra Campbell gives a dramatic account of the Antonine plague, the mysterious disease that struck the Roman Empire at its pinnacle

In the middle of the second century AD, Rome was at its prosperous and powerful apex. The emperor Marcus Aurelius reigned over a vast territory that stretched from Britain to Egypt. The Roman-made peace, or Pax Romana, seemed to be permanent. Then, apparently out of nowhere, a sudden sickness struck the legions and laid waste to cities, including Rome itself. This fast-spreading disease, known now as the Antonine plague, may have been history's first pandemic. Soon after its arrival, the Empire began its downward trajectory toward decline and fall. In Pox Romana, historian Colin Elliott offers a comprehensive, wide-ranging account of this pivotal moment in Roman history.

Did a single disease-its origins and diagnosis still a mystery-bring Rome to its knees? Carefully examining all the available evidence, Elliott shows that Rome's problems were more insidious. Years before the pandemic, the thin veneer of Roman peace and prosperity had begun to crack: the economy was sluggish, the military found itself bogged down in the Balkans and the Middle East, food insecurity led to riots and mass migration, and persecution of Christians intensified. The pandemic exposed the crumbling foundations of a doomed Empire. Arguing that the disease was both cause and effect of Rome's fall, Elliott describes the plague's “preexisting conditions”-Rome's multiple economic, social, and environmental susceptibilities; recounts the history of the outbreak itself through the experiences of physician, victim, and political operator; and explores post-pandemic crises. The pandemic's most transformative power, Elliott suggests, may have been its lingering presence as a threat both real and perceived.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

11/27/2023

Historian Elliott (Economic Theory and the Roman Monetary Economy) evaluates in this enlightening account the impact of the Antonine plague of 165 CE on the demise of the Pax Romana, a period of relative stability in the Roman Empire from 27 BCE to 180 CE. Elliott contends that the empire was actually fragile during the Pax, and that the extreme impact of the plague was a symptom of this fragility. Throughout the period, he explains, the empire was rife with urban overpopulation, rampant poverty, poor sanitation, endemic disease (especially malaria), foreign conflict, and civil unrest. These social issues, as well as a series of natural disasters (including flooding of the River Tiber, drought, and agricultural failure in Egypt) prior to the plague intensified its effects. Moreover, the interconnectedness of the empire served as a vector: Roman soldiers returned from fighting in Persia with the plague in tow, while migration and inter-regional trade within the empire further spread the contagion. The plague’s devastating consequences included food and supply shortages, economic crises, and political unrest. These effects, paired with the disease, are what eventually exhausted the brittle empire and ended the Pax, according to Elliott. Challenged by the meager documentation available, he expertly draws on trace evidence such as census records, real estate contracts, and paleoclimate research to make his case. It’s an informative history that serves to encourage better pandemic preparedness today. (Feb.)

From the Publisher

"This look at the Antonine plague and its impact has both good history and good economics."—-Tyler Cowen, Marginal Revolution

"Pox Romana is an important work of ancient history. . . . It shows that by leveraging new archeological evidence, and variegated forms of quantitative evidence, scholars are making substantive advances in our understanding of the Roman world."—-Mark Koyama, How the World Became Rich

"Colin Elliott has written a book which is very relevant to the world we live in."—-Francis Ghilès, The Arab Weekly

"Colin Elliott offers a comprehensive, wide-ranging account of [a] pivotal moment in Roman history. . . .I recommend everyone to purchase this book."—-Mark Beumer, Kleio-Historia

Choice Reviews

"Readers will find in this remarkable book an important contribution to Roman imperial history and a vivid account of the harsh realities of life in an ancient mega city like Rome. . . . Highly recommended."

The Tablet

"[A] remarkable book. . . .A vivid account of the harsh realities of life in an ancient mega city like Rome."

Choice

"An important contribution to Roman imperial history and a vivid account of the harsh realities of life in an ancient mega city like Rome."

Product Details

BN ID:	2940160595108
Publisher:	Princeton University Press
Publication date:	02/06/2024
Edition description:	Unabridged

Videos