Sabbatani Sergio, Manfredi Roberto, Fiorino Sirio
Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Bologna, S. Orsola Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
Infez Med. 2012 Jun;20(2):125-39.
In their medical-historical review, the authors assess the evolution of bubonic plague epidemics: after breaking out in the Egyptian port of Pelusium in October 541 AD, the epidemics hit several regions in the Mediterranean basin in a succession of waves. The so-called Justinian plague took its name from the Byzantine emperor of the period, and seriously conditioned the expansionary aims of the Eastern Roman empire towards Italy (which was occupied by Goths), and Northern Africa (where the Vandals had settled), during the first decades of its spread. In the Eastern Empire the plague played a considerable role in reducing the tensions between Persians and Byzantines, especially on the Syrian and Anatolian fronts. It had a major demographic impact, reducing the possibility of recruitment to the Roman legions and leading to a significant drop in tax revenues, which were essential to sustain the state and its military machine. Finally, the plague also took its toll on economic resources (especially agriculture), indirectly leading to a vicious inflationary circle. In the space of over two centuries, plague epidemics paralyzed most trade and commercial exchanges. Furthermore, the Justinian plague, halting the consolidation of the influence of the Eastern Roman empire over some Western regions (including Italy and Northern Africa, which were ruled by Barbarians), supported the development and rise of a number of Roman-Barbarian kingdoms. It may therefore be suggested that the Justinian plague occurred at a very critical historical moment, which represents the real watershed between the Ancient World and the upcoming Middle Ages.
在他们的医学历史回顾中，作者评估了腺鼠疫疫情的演变：公元541年10月在埃及港口佩鲁西姆爆发后，疫情接连波及地中海盆地的几个地区。所谓的查士丁尼瘟疫得名于当时的拜占庭皇帝，在其传播的最初几十年里，严重制约了东罗马帝国向意大利（被哥特人占领）和北非（汪达尔人定居之地）扩张的目标。在东罗马帝国，这场瘟疫在缓解波斯人和拜占庭人之间的紧张关系方面发挥了重要作用，尤其是在叙利亚和安纳托利亚前线。它对人口产生了重大影响，减少了罗马军团的征兵可能性，并导致税收大幅下降，而税收是维持国家及其军事机器运转的关键。最后，这场瘟疫也对经济资源（尤其是农业）造成了损失，间接导致了恶性通货膨胀循环。在两个多世纪的时间里，鼠疫疫情使大多数贸易和商业交流陷入瘫痪。此外，查士丁尼瘟疫阻止了东罗马帝国对一些西部地区（包括由蛮族统治的意大利和北非）影响力的巩固，促进了一些罗马 - 蛮族王国的发展和崛起。因此，可以认为查士丁尼瘟疫发生在一个非常关键的历史时刻，它代表了古代世界和即将到来的中世纪之间真正的分水岭。
