Professor Kyle Harper

very much about the evolutionary history of it. You can't say this probably came from this evolutionary family tree. So it's a little bit hard to root. But I do think that it's quite possible that the perception that the army is spreading the disease reflects some kind of genuine observation that At the very least, armies concentrate lots of people. They move around.

very much about the evolutionary history of it. You can't say this probably came from this evolutionary family tree. So it's a little bit hard to root. But I do think that it's quite possible that the perception that the army is spreading the disease reflects some kind of genuine observation that At the very least, armies concentrate lots of people. They move around.

very much about the evolutionary history of it. You can't say this probably came from this evolutionary family tree. So it's a little bit hard to root. But I do think that it's quite possible that the perception that the army is spreading the disease reflects some kind of genuine observation that At the very least, armies concentrate lots of people. They move around.

And so even if there's probably a little bit of invective, like this is probably a way of criticizing the memory of Ovidius Cassius, who later revolts against Marcus Aurelius and goes down in the annals of history as a bad guy. So I'm a little bit skeptical about some elements of it, but probably the Roman army catches this contagion

And so even if there's probably a little bit of invective, like this is probably a way of criticizing the memory of Ovidius Cassius, who later revolts against Marcus Aurelius and goes down in the annals of history as a bad guy. So I'm a little bit skeptical about some elements of it, but probably the Roman army catches this contagion

And so even if there's probably a little bit of invective, like this is probably a way of criticizing the memory of Ovidius Cassius, who later revolts against Marcus Aurelius and goes down in the annals of history as a bad guy. So I'm a little bit skeptical about some elements of it, but probably the Roman army catches this contagion

and when it demobilizes after the campaign's in Parthia, is a vector for the transmission of the disease to other provinces of the Roman Empire.

and when it demobilizes after the campaign's in Parthia, is a vector for the transmission of the disease to other provinces of the Roman Empire.

and when it demobilizes after the campaign's in Parthia, is a vector for the transmission of the disease to other provinces of the Roman Empire.

Well, in the middle of the 3rd century, first for the bigger context, The Roman Empire does melt down. And my colleague, the Roman historian, Walter Scheidel, has called this the first fall of the Roman Empire. I love that framing because I think it jars us into thinking about this the right way. The Roman Empire falls. middle of the third century.

Well, in the middle of the 3rd century, first for the bigger context, The Roman Empire does melt down. And my colleague, the Roman historian, Walter Scheidel, has called this the first fall of the Roman Empire. I love that framing because I think it jars us into thinking about this the right way. The Roman Empire falls. middle of the third century.

Well, in the middle of the 3rd century, first for the bigger context, The Roman Empire does melt down. And my colleague, the Roman historian, Walter Scheidel, has called this the first fall of the Roman Empire. I love that framing because I think it jars us into thinking about this the right way. The Roman Empire falls. middle of the third century.

It's actually weirder that it's put back together. And when it is put back together, it's a really different empire. I would say 268 is the year of the new empire that lasts down to the early seventh century. It's a second Roman empire. It has a totally different kind of emperor. Most of the emperors from Julius Caesar and Augustus to Decius, are sociologically of the same type.

It's actually weirder that it's put back together. And when it is put back together, it's a really different empire. I would say 268 is the year of the new empire that lasts down to the early seventh century. It's a second Roman empire. It has a totally different kind of emperor. Most of the emperors from Julius Caesar and Augustus to Decius, are sociologically of the same type.

It's actually weirder that it's put back together. And when it is put back together, it's a really different empire. I would say 268 is the year of the new empire that lasts down to the early seventh century. It's a second Roman empire. It has a totally different kind of emperor. Most of the emperors from Julius Caesar and Augustus to Decius, are sociologically of the same type.

They come from wealthy Mediterranean senatorial families who work through the imperial system where the senatorial elites serve as military commanders as part of their careers. They're socially pretty similar. They geographically come from different places, but they're all kind of Mediterranean. Even the Spanish emperors are kind of really Italian Mediterranean emperors and so on.

They come from wealthy Mediterranean senatorial families who work through the imperial system where the senatorial elites serve as military commanders as part of their careers. They're socially pretty similar. They geographically come from different places, but they're all kind of Mediterranean. Even the Spanish emperors are kind of really Italian Mediterranean emperors and so on.

They come from wealthy Mediterranean senatorial families who work through the imperial system where the senatorial elites serve as military commanders as part of their careers. They're socially pretty similar. They geographically come from different places, but they're all kind of Mediterranean. Even the Spanish emperors are kind of really Italian Mediterranean emperors and so on.

And they represent kind of an urban elite social stratum. From 268, most of the emperors come from a tiny little region, mostly in what's now Serbia, the bend in the Danube. These are not wealthy Mediterranean senators. These are career soldiers.

And they represent kind of an urban elite social stratum. From 268, most of the emperors come from a tiny little region, mostly in what's now Serbia, the bend in the Danube. These are not wealthy Mediterranean senators. These are career soldiers.