Pandemics of history: “The Plague of Justinian” - Yersinia Pestis

The COVID19 pandemic has caused me to go down the rabbit hole of devastating plagues that have afflicted mankind, one of the worst ever being the Plague of Justinian (541-542 CE) which wiped out nearly half of Europe, killing an estimated 25-50 million people (25% of the Byzantine Empire).

Surprisingly, the disease originated in China. It then spread to Africa and Egypt through trade routes, then North to Alexandria and East to Palestine. Much like Coronavirus, it crippled the Economy, although it did not cancel any sports. It was mainly transmitted through Black Rats on grain ships and carts bound for Constantinople. The primary symptoms were delusions, nightmares, fever, and swelling in the groin, armpits, and behind the ears. This plague was commonly blamed on the emperor, Justinian, who was accused of being the devil. Supposedly he was being punished by god for his evil ways.

Justinian actually caught Yersinia Pestis, although he survived the disease. This plague raged on for 225 years until it disappeared in 750 CE. Bodies were mainly disposed of in abandoned buildings or dumped at sea. There would be no more plague outbreaks until the Black Death arrived in Europe in October of 1347.