During the reign of the emperor Justinian I (527-565 CE), one of the worst outbreaks of the plague took place, claiming the lives of millions of people. The plague arrived in Constantinople in 542 CE, almost a year after the disease first made its appearance in the outer provinces of the empire. The outbreak continued to sweep throughout the Mediterranean world for another 225 years, finally disappearing in 750 CE.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original article at https://www.worldhistory.org/article/782/justinians-plague-541-542-ce/.
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- Why do you think the plague spread so fast in Justinian's empire?
- Do you think war made the plague worse, and why?
- What do you think was the biggest effect of the plague on Byzantine life?
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