Plague in the Ancient and Medieval World

Plague in the Ancient and Medieval World written by Joshua J Mark and narrated by DW Draffin: https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1528/plague-in-the-ancient--medieval-world/ Find it on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AJUmHr2_VI If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.ancient.eu/membership/ - www.ancient.eu/donate/ - www.patreon.com/ahe The word 'plague', in defining a lethal epidemic, was coined by the physician Galen (l. 130-210 CE) who lived through the Antonine Plague (165 - c. 180/190 CE) but the disease was recorded long before in relating the affliction of the Plague of Athens (429-426 BCE) which killed many of the city’s inhabitants, including the statesman Pericles (l. 495-429 BCE). This epidemic, and some of the others that followed, may or may not have been actual plague as it was later defined; ancient writers tended to use the term plague for any widespread outbreak of pestilence.