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This book tackles the difficult challenge of uncovering the pathogenic cause, epidemiological mechanics and broader historical impacts of an extremely deadly third-century ancient Roman pandemic. The core of this research is embodied in a novel systems synthesis methodology that allows for ground-breaking historical-scientific problem-solving. Through precise historical and scientific problem-solving, analysis and modelling, the authors piece together a holistic puzzle portrait of an ancient plague that is fully consistent, in turn, with both the surviving ancient evidence and the latest in cutting edge twenty-first-century modern medical and molecular phylogenetic science. Demonstrating the broader relevance of the crisis-beset world of the third-century Roman Empire in providing guiding and cautionary historical lessons for the present, this innovative book provides fascinating insights for students and scholars across a range of disciplines.
Part I. "The Theory": The Rediscovery and Reinterpretation of an Ancient Pandemic
Chapter 1. The Ancient Evidentiary Foundations
Chapter 2. A Most Difficult Source and the Relevance of Climatic Circumstances
Part II. "The What and the How": Underlying Differential Virology, Molecular Phylogenetics, Host Species Ecology and Biogeographical Presence
Chapter 3. Retrospective and Differential Pathogen Diagnosis
Chapter 4. Of Bats and Empires: The Egyptian Rousette Bat and the Kingdom of Aksum
Chapter 5. Modeling an Ancient Zoonotic Outbreak
Part III. "The Why": Projected MARV Lineage Epidemiology and Pathology in the Third century Roman Empire
Chapter 6. Guardrail Modeling: Geographical Dissemination Pathways and the Urban Epidemiological Setting
Chapter 7. Exploration of Modeled Urban Epidemiology Concluded and Analysis of the Contrasting Epidemiological Situation in the Imperial Countryside
Chapter 8. The Plague of Cyprian: Timelines, Outlines and Parameters
Part IV. "Conclusion--Final Thoughts on the Plague of Cyprian": Methodological Defense and Brief Overview of Our "Solution", Histoiographical Context and Current Relevance
Chapter 9. Situating the Plague of Cyprian within the Broader Outlines of Roman History
Chapter 10. Modern Relevance of the Plague of Cyprian
Mark Orsag is a Professor of European and Interdisciplinary History and Chair of the History Department at Doane University in the USA. Prior to this, he studied at Carnegie-Mellon University, Pennsylvania State University, and Michigan State University. Mark's research is centred on the nexus of history and the natural sciences.
Dr Amanda McKinney is the founder/executive director of the Institute for Human and Planetary Health in the USA. She is a triple board-certified physician with a medical degree from the University of Nebraska and residency/fellowship training at the University of California-Irvine. She is a Collaborator in the Planetary Limits Academic Network, which "aims to raise awareness about critical systemic challenges facing the human endeavour." Her ongoing research encompasses both plant medicine and how planetary limits will impact US healthcare.
DeeAnn M. Reeder is a Professor of Biology at Bucknell University in the USA. She is a wildlife biologist who studies disease ecology, behaviour, physiology, and conservation. Having previously studied at UC Berkeley, UC Davis and Boston University, DeeAnn's current research explores the relationships between bat health, ecosystem health and human disease risk. She holds a research position at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC.
