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That earlier plague

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Demography

Resumen

La plaga que apareció alrededor del ano 542 de nuestra era, continuó como una serie de epidemias durante la séptima centuria y siguió un modelo muy parecido al de la Peste Negra del siglo XIV. Previamente el emperador Bizantino Justiniano (527–565) habia recapturado el norte de Africa anteriormente controlado por los Vandalos y la mayor parte de Italia de manos de los Ostrogodos.

La perspectiva de restablecimiento del completo Imperio Romano parecía buena desde que las condiciones en el Este eran excelentes y la mayor parte del Oeste habría recibido con alegría sus ejércitos. La plaga interrumpió y probablemente hi o imposible el cumplimiento de ese programa. Casi tan destructiva como la posterior (Peste Negra) esta plaga redujo la población entre 40 y 50 por ciento hacia el fin del siglo. Esto simplificó la cultura al reducir el tamaño de las ciudades. La más alta mortalidad de las pequeñas familias perjudicó al clero y a los grupos más educados. Las más ligeras perdidas en las areas secas tendieron a alterar el balance entre semi-nomades y areas de colonizacón. La sociedad fue cambiada radicalmente y quedo emocionalmente desequilibrada.

Bajo el peso de la creciente depresión y perdida de la población, el Imperio Bizantino tuvo que reducir el tamaño de sus ejércitos. No solo fué la ofensiva en el Oeste abandonada despues del 565, sino que las defensas al Sur fueron tan debilitadas que el Islam, en la siguiente centuria tomaría facilmente Egipto y Siria. Las condiciones mas simples inducidas por la plaga of recieron una oportunidad ideal para el desarrollo y la difusión del Islam especialmente en las areas nomanes y seminomades. En el Oeste la amenaza de expansión de los francos se debilitó y creció el localismo. El patron de dominación de Griegos, Arabes, y Germanos iba a persistar por siglos.

Summary

The plague, appearing about A.D. 542, continued as a series of epidemics well into the seventh century and followed a pattern much like that of the fourteenth century Black Death. Just previously, the Byzantine Emperor Justinian (527–565) had recaptured North Africa from the Vandals and much of Italy from the Ostrogoths. The prospect of reestablishing the whole Roman Empire seemed good since conditions in the east were excellent and much of the west might welcome his armies.

The plague interrupted and probably made impossible the fulfillment of that program. About as destructive as the later plague, it reduced the population 40–50 percent by the end of the century. This simplified culture by cutting down the size of the cities. Heavier mortality of smaller households injured the clergy and the more literate groups. The lighter losses in the dry areas tended to upset the balance between semi-nomadic and settled lands, Society was changed radically and upset emotionally.

Burdened by increasing depression and loss of population, the Byzantine Empire had to reduce the size of its field armies. Not only was the offensive in the West abandoned after 565, but the southern defenses were so weakened that Islam, in the next century, tore away Egypt and Syria. The simpler conditions induced by the plague offered an ideal opportunity for the development and spread of Islam, particularly in the nomadic and semi-nomadic areas. In the west the threat of Frankish expansion weakened and localism increased. The general pattern of Greek, Arab, and German dominance was to persist for centuries.

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    Josiah C. Russell

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Russell, J.C. That earlier plague. Demography 5, 174–184 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03208570

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