Here in Venice we still celebrate the end of two waves of plague. In July there are the festive celebrations of Redentore that finish with an hour of fireworks at midnight and in November is the solemn usually foggy day of Salute when we eat Castradina in honor of the Dalmatians that fed the city when it was cut off from the world.
A continuation of the Justinian Plague: The Plague of Amwas, hit greater Syria in 638, just as the Muslim conquest was in full swing. It took out tens of thousands in the army camps and local populations. Significantly, it killed many of the Muslim leadership, including Yazid ibn Abi Sufyan. This resulted in his brother’s appointment as the new commander of the army in Syria: Mu’awiya ibn Abi Sufyan. Later, as govenor of Damascus, he contested the caliphate of Ali, leading to the Sunni/Shia split. Mu'awiya eventually became Caliph himself—the beginnings of the Umayyad Caliphate.
Yersinia pestis is still endemic to wild rodent populations - prairie dogs, chipmunks, voles, etc. - in western North America. It can spread to carnivores which eat them, including the domestic cat. Timely antibiotic treatment prevents fatal cases in humans, but antibiotic resistance is a growing concern.
Well, Alberta tries to remain rat free. It has 1,800 kilometres of border with British Columbia and 1,200 km of border with Saskatchewan, and rats sneak over the borders from both sides regularly. Alberta has good reason to not tolerate them. Neither black rats, which carry yersinia pestis, nor brown rats are indigenous to North America. Fascinatingly, the rising prevalence of the brown rat over the black is probably what slowed down the plague in Europe and is keeping it out of eastern North America: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-rats-took-over-north-america/
This is so fascinating. I always thought this was a medieval illness I had no idea is was something so old. You learn something new each day. I guess I'm done for to day! ;)
As an expat/immigrant/archaeologist in Norway, I find it fascinating that evidence of the Black Death has carried down to present times in place names and surnames such as Ødegård (Oedegaard) which means Abandoned/wiped out farm (from the Plague).
Fascinating read, some of which I knew and quite a bit I didn’t - always fun, even if a dreadful tale. Humans have such a hand in changing our world yet occasionally the world has a hand impacting us!
And are still doing so. This doc is based on a book set during the San Francisco plague of 1900, which we have mostly forgotten about because of the earthquake and fire.
Yes, like with Covid, I think everyone who could have caught it, caught it, so only those who had more natural resistance survived it. I couldn’t find this information out there, but I assume the three major pandemics (6th, 14th, and 19th centuries) were caused by some kind of novel mutation in the bacterium (along with the environmental conditions for the fleas to proliferate) that meant it spread really quickly in those events
Here in Venice we still celebrate the end of two waves of plague. In July there are the festive celebrations of Redentore that finish with an hour of fireworks at midnight and in November is the solemn usually foggy day of Salute when we eat Castradina in honor of the Dalmatians that fed the city when it was cut off from the world.
A continuation of the Justinian Plague: The Plague of Amwas, hit greater Syria in 638, just as the Muslim conquest was in full swing. It took out tens of thousands in the army camps and local populations. Significantly, it killed many of the Muslim leadership, including Yazid ibn Abi Sufyan. This resulted in his brother’s appointment as the new commander of the army in Syria: Mu’awiya ibn Abi Sufyan. Later, as govenor of Damascus, he contested the caliphate of Ali, leading to the Sunni/Shia split. Mu'awiya eventually became Caliph himself—the beginnings of the Umayyad Caliphate.
All because of a wee flea.
Yersinia pestis is still endemic to wild rodent populations - prairie dogs, chipmunks, voles, etc. - in western North America. It can spread to carnivores which eat them, including the domestic cat. Timely antibiotic treatment prevents fatal cases in humans, but antibiotic resistance is a growing concern.
Interesting side issue about Alberta as the largest rat-free area in the world.
https://www.thisamericanlife.org/801/must-be-rats-on-the-brain/act-three-34
Well, Alberta tries to remain rat free. It has 1,800 kilometres of border with British Columbia and 1,200 km of border with Saskatchewan, and rats sneak over the borders from both sides regularly. Alberta has good reason to not tolerate them. Neither black rats, which carry yersinia pestis, nor brown rats are indigenous to North America. Fascinatingly, the rising prevalence of the brown rat over the black is probably what slowed down the plague in Europe and is keeping it out of eastern North America: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-rats-took-over-north-america/
Whenever I feel modern times are tough and scary, I remember how absurdly much worse it has been in the past.
Central heating / air conditioning alone makes the present better than almost any point in history!
Fascinating read.
Another fantastic post by M.E.Rothwell. I am always struck by the depth of his reporting on the topics he covers.
Great article, thank you very much
This is so fascinating. I always thought this was a medieval illness I had no idea is was something so old. You learn something new each day. I guess I'm done for to day! ;)
As an expat/immigrant/archaeologist in Norway, I find it fascinating that evidence of the Black Death has carried down to present times in place names and surnames such as Ødegård (Oedegaard) which means Abandoned/wiped out farm (from the Plague).
That’s fascinating! I guess that’s where the Arsenal player’s name comes from. Mind blown! 🤯
Very interesting and sources quoted. Thanks
Fascinating read, some of which I knew and quite a bit I didn’t - always fun, even if a dreadful tale. Humans have such a hand in changing our world yet occasionally the world has a hand impacting us!
Gruesome. And scary as climate changes.
And are still doing so. This doc is based on a book set during the San Francisco plague of 1900, which we have mostly forgotten about because of the earthquake and fire.
https://www.pbs.org/video/plague-at-the-golden-gate-dhdrto/
Really fascinating. Do we know how the plaque stopped spreading? Just eventual built immunity by enough people?
Yes, like with Covid, I think everyone who could have caught it, caught it, so only those who had more natural resistance survived it. I couldn’t find this information out there, but I assume the three major pandemics (6th, 14th, and 19th centuries) were caused by some kind of novel mutation in the bacterium (along with the environmental conditions for the fleas to proliferate) that meant it spread really quickly in those events
According to my friend / former student Sam (and as you mention), hungry people are more susceptible.
https://www.jmu.edu/socanth/people/yaussysl.shtml
Thanks for the extra info! Throwing decayed bodies over walls during war is a heck of a tactic…
Thank you for packing so much interesting information into a digestible segment.
Excellent article, well researched, thank you 🙏