As inhabitants of the modern world, we generally regard ourselves as more evolved than our forebears. Among our acquaintances, there is always the occasional throwback to a more primitive era, but by and large, we smugly believe that we are a vastly improved version of our ancestors.
After all, we have Google, the new Delphic Oracle, who is able to instantly answer all of our questions. Instead of temple priests, who predicted the future by interpreting animal entrails, we have CNN, the BBC, or EuroNews to tell us what will happen. In the USA, of course, there is also Dr. Phil.
Furthermore, we eat much better than our forefathers. Modern-day food is gourmet fare compared to the menu in 6th century Byzantium, where those who could not afford wild boar, ate root vegetable puree made from carrots and parsnips, perhaps accompanied by fermented barley sauce. No citizen of Byzantium, not even the emperor, was ever fortunate enough to savor a Big Mac or an Egg McMuffin washed down with Coca-Cola or a Blue Raspberry Slushy.
Nevertheless, as Covid-19 has shown us, the 1500-year divide between the 6th and 21st centuries, is a mere hiccup. The 2020 coronavirus pandemic is evidence that we are not so evolved as we had thought. History is once again repeating itself.
Long ago, in 541 A.D., a plague suddenly appeared in Egypt and extended rapidly from the seaports inland throughout the world, spreading across Asia, North Africa, Arabia, and Europe.
Since this pandemic occurred during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, it is known as the Justinian plague. It is the first pandemic in recorded history. The only major difference between then and now is that the diseases are different. The Byzantines had the bubonic plague and we have Covid-19.
We know a great deal about the Justinian plague because it was witnessed firsthand by Procopius, a Byzantine scholar, who accompanied General Belsarius in his battle campaigns. Procopius was a sort of war correspondent whose job was to chronicle the general’s victories and place him in a favorable light for posterity. Since there was no Twitter back then, he ended up writing The History of Wars in eight volumes.
Although the accuracy of the figures has been questioned, the Justinian plague is estimated to have killed between 30 and 50 million people—about half the world's population at that time.
As reflected in the following excerpt from The History of Wars, everyone back then was also perplexed by the fact that the plague spread so rapidly and seemed to have appeared suddenly out of nowhere.
Procopius also mentions the death rate, which, for obvious reasons, he could only roughly estimate.
Procopius had probably studied medicine because he describes the disease, its phases, and symptoms in great detail. He also mentions the medication and treatment for the bubonic plague. Standard remedies of the day included cold-water baths, powders “blessed” by saints, magic amulets, and various drugs, especially alkaloids. This is reminiscent of the remedies for coronavirus available on Internet, which range from colloidal silver to cocaine.
Doctors in the 6th-century were also faced with a disease that had no effective treatment. The medical professionals back then were almost as clueless about the bubonic plague as doctors are today about Covid-19. My son has also said the same as Procopius (though in different words):
In the same way as today, survival was a question of good fortune, excellent health and an uncompromised immune system.
Because of the plague, Byzantium experienced a recession so severe that it changed the course of history. There was no stock market back then but the plague episode contributed to a weakening of the Byzantine Empire both politically and economically. As the disease spread throughout the Mediterranean world, the Byzantine Empire was unable to resist its enemies, and it began to crumble. Procopius mentions the economic ruin that descended.
In the same way as President Sánchez, Emperor Justinian was also forced to order soldiers to patrol the streets and help the local populace.
As in Spain (and New York), there were so many dead during the Justinian plague that there were finally no funeral rites or ceremonies. The dead could not be mourned or honored by their family because there were too many of them.
Up until this point, Procopius’s description is a calque of what is happening in Spain and in many other countries. However, this is where the stories diverge. In Byzantium, the plague finally had the positive effect of bringing rival political forces together and causing them to momentarily set aside their differences.
Furthermore, we eat much better than our forefathers. Modern-day food is gourmet fare compared to the menu in 6th century Byzantium, where those who could not afford wild boar, ate root vegetable puree made from carrots and parsnips, perhaps accompanied by fermented barley sauce. No citizen of Byzantium, not even the emperor, was ever fortunate enough to savor a Big Mac or an Egg McMuffin washed down with Coca-Cola or a Blue Raspberry Slushy.
Nevertheless, as Covid-19 has shown us, the 1500-year divide between the 6th and 21st centuries, is a mere hiccup. The 2020 coronavirus pandemic is evidence that we are not so evolved as we had thought. History is once again repeating itself.
Long ago, in 541 A.D., a plague suddenly appeared in Egypt and extended rapidly from the seaports inland throughout the world, spreading across Asia, North Africa, Arabia, and Europe.
Since this pandemic occurred during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, it is known as the Justinian plague. It is the first pandemic in recorded history. The only major difference between then and now is that the diseases are different. The Byzantines had the bubonic plague and we have Covid-19.
We know a great deal about the Justinian plague because it was witnessed firsthand by Procopius, a Byzantine scholar, who accompanied General Belsarius in his battle campaigns. Procopius was a sort of war correspondent whose job was to chronicle the general’s victories and place him in a favorable light for posterity. Since there was no Twitter back then, he ended up writing The History of Wars in eight volumes.
Although the accuracy of the figures has been questioned, the Justinian plague is estimated to have killed between 30 and 50 million people—about half the world's population at that time.
As reflected in the following excerpt from The History of Wars, everyone back then was also perplexed by the fact that the plague spread so rapidly and seemed to have appeared suddenly out of nowhere.
DNA analyses in modern times have since revealed that it originated in Qinghai, China. (Sound familiar?)
“For it did not come in a part of the world nor upon certain men, nor did it confine itself to any season of the year […] it spread over the whole world […], as if fearing lest some corner of the earth might escape it.”
Procopius also mentions the death rate, which, for obvious reasons, he could only roughly estimate.
“And at first the deaths were a little more than the normal, then the mortality rose still higher, and afterwards the tale of dead reached five thousand each day, and again it even came to ten thousand and still more than that.”Nevertheless, counting methods have not significantly progressed since the 6th century. Despite all of the digital resources in the modern age, we are not doing much better. The Spanish government is still trying to accurately tally the coronavirus deaths. Compared to Spain, Procopius did better counting the dead with his abacus.
Procopius had probably studied medicine because he describes the disease, its phases, and symptoms in great detail. He also mentions the medication and treatment for the bubonic plague. Standard remedies of the day included cold-water baths, powders “blessed” by saints, magic amulets, and various drugs, especially alkaloids. This is reminiscent of the remedies for coronavirus available on Internet, which range from colloidal silver to cocaine.
Doctors in the 6th-century were also faced with a disease that had no effective treatment. The medical professionals back then were almost as clueless about the bubonic plague as doctors are today about Covid-19. My son has also said the same as Procopius (though in different words):
“And of those who received no care many died, but others, contrary to reason, were saved. And again, methods of treatment shewed different results with different patients.”
In the same way as today, survival was a question of good fortune, excellent health and an uncompromised immune system.
Because of the plague, Byzantium experienced a recession so severe that it changed the course of history. There was no stock market back then but the plague episode contributed to a weakening of the Byzantine Empire both politically and economically. As the disease spread throughout the Mediterranean world, the Byzantine Empire was unable to resist its enemies, and it began to crumble. Procopius mentions the economic ruin that descended.
“And work of every description ceased, and all the trades were abandoned by the artisans, and all other work as well, such as each had in hand.”Emperor Justinian I (like Boris Johnson and various members of the Spanish government) also got the plague, but managed to survive it. After his recovery, Justinian I was able to reign for ten years more. It is still a mystery how much longer President Sanchez and Boris Johnson will eventually remain in office.
In the same way as President Sánchez, Emperor Justinian was also forced to order soldiers to patrol the streets and help the local populace.
“He [Emperor Justinian] therefore detailed soldiers from the palace and distributed money.”Since the soldiers back then could not disinfect the streets and elderly care facilities (as the Spanish army now does), they handed out funds from the treasury (like the U.S. government is currently doing).
As in Spain (and New York), there were so many dead during the Justinian plague that there were finally no funeral rites or ceremonies. The dead could not be mourned or honored by their family because there were too many of them.
“At that time all the customary rites of burial were overlooked. For the dead were not carried out escorted by a procession in the customary manner, nor were the usual chants sung over them.”In Byzantium, they finally left the bodies along the shore to be later thrown into the water. In New York, many of the dead have been buried in mass graves.
Up until this point, Procopius’s description is a calque of what is happening in Spain and in many other countries. However, this is where the stories diverge. In Byzantium, the plague finally had the positive effect of bringing rival political forces together and causing them to momentarily set aside their differences.
“At that time, too, those of the population who had formerly been members of different factions laid aside their mutual enmity”It is much less certain whether even the coronavirus plague will be able to force political parties in Spain to stop squabbling among themselves and forget about their own selfish interests. It is to be hoped that one day before it is too late they will stop their infighting and remember that they represent the citizens of this country. Shared tragedy can sometimes have that effect, but as yet, it is too soon to tell.
