Latest / Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Silent Plague of Pannonia
While earlier episodes explored Marcus Aurelius’ Stoic philosophy and his military campaigns against the Marcomanni, this episode turns its gaze to the invisible enemy that ravaged the Roman Empire alongside the Germanic tribes. We examine the Antonine Plague, likely smallpox or measles, which arrived with returning soldiers from the East and devastated populations across the Mediterranean. Through the medical observations of Galen and the logistical struggles of the Curator Annonae, we trace how a biological crisis compounded the strain of decades of war. The conversation details the…
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