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Module 5: Global Pandemics



In 2020 the world is suffering from COVID-19. There have been many global pandemics in the world and long ago there was a pandemic that killed about 5 million people around 165 AD to 180 AD. This plague known as the Antonine Plague emerged during the reign of Marcus Aurelius. This epidemic brought the spread of religions like Christianity and Mithraism and renewal in spirituality. This plague affected Asia, Egypt, Greece, and Italy, but to this day the cause of this pandemic is still unknown. Many people believe that it was smallpox or measles. This disease was brought by Roman soldiers when they returned from Mesopotamia. Rome’s army was devastated. This plague was a very rapidly spreading disease, just like COVID-19. After the outbreak, Marcus Aurelius made the requirements for membership into Athens, Greece less harsh because there weren’t many surviving upper-class Athenians. This pandemic affected many people like COVID-19 is affecting many people today.

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/daily-life-and-practice/the-antonine-plague-and-the-spread-of-christianity/
https://www.mphonline.org/worst-pandemics-in-history/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20046111 

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