Prompt Cast
The Plague of Justinian: The First Pandemic in History
TLDR The Plague of Justinian, the first pandemic in history, had a profound and lasting impact on the world. Caused by the Yersena Pestis bacteria, it spread through Central Asia, Africa, and eventually reached Constantinople, resulting in the death of 5 to 10,000 people per day at its peak. The plague led to the decline of the Roman/Byzantine Empire, weakened the empire for decades, and made them susceptible to the rise of Islam, resulting in an estimated death total of 100 million people.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The first pandemic in history, the plague of Justinian, still has a lasting impact on the world today.
01:55
The first pandemic in history, the Plague of Justinian, began in 541 CE and was characterized by sudden fever, sweating, and the development of large lumps in lymph nodes, with most people not surviving more than five days.
03:04
The Plague of Justinian, caused by the Yersena Pestis bacteria, spread through Central Asia, Africa, and eventually reached Constantinople, resulting in the death of 5 to 10,000 people per day at its peak.
04:16
The mortality rate of the Plague of Justinian rose to 5,000 deaths per day, causing confusion and disorder as many people became sick or died, leaving houses empty and notable men unburied for days.
05:27
The Plague of Justinian occurred during a time of climate change and economic strain, leading to abandoned farms, high taxes, and a famine.
06:42
The plague of Justinian had a profound and lasting effect on world history, effectively ending Rome/Byzantium as a major power and leaving the empire weakened for decades, making them susceptible to the rise of Islam, and resulting in an estimated death total of 100 million people.
07:57
The bubonic plague is no longer a pandemic due to better understanding, identification, and treatment of the disease, although it still exists in certain regions.
