Patterns of Disease

Classical Antiquity was characterized by a relatively stable disease landscape, largely confined to the Mediterranean basin with limited exposure to foreign pathogens. This study reveals that large-scale population movements and urban concentrations were rare before the Hellenistic and Roman periods, with most people living in small villages or rural areas. Archaeological evidence suggests substantial population declines due to war and the Antonine plague, while urban centers like Rome saw significant shrinkage by Late Antiquity. The research combines historical data, archaeological surveys, and papyri records to reconstruct demographic patterns and disease impacts across ancient societies.

(Ed.). (2012). PATTERNS OF DISEASE. Ancient Medicine, 33–50. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203081297-9