As grotesque, swollen lymph nodes surfaced and fevers soared to deadly levels, it would seem that the apocalypse crept closer with each lost life. This was the conclusion that came to those living in the Byzantine Empire during 541 A.D. Until this point, Byzantine citizens enjoyed only the finest of luxuries- rich culture, magnificent buildings, such as the Hagia Sophia, and overall prosperity. Nonetheless, even the splendid Byzantine Empire, and its surrounding Mediterranean areas, could not defend itself from the Justinian Plague, an invisible enemy. By the 700s, this epidemic vanished from the area, wiping out nearly half of the European population. However, eight hundred years later, in between the High and Late Middle Ages, another
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Due to its ideal location, Constantinople was a thriving trade center with a stable economy. However, with the Plague of Justinian, “slaves remained destitute of masters, and men who in former times were very prosperous were deprived of the service of their domestics who were either sick or dead…and work of every description ceased, and all the trades were abandoned by the artisans and all other work as well, such as each had in hand” (Procopius). In result of a skyrocketing mortality rate, there were multiple slaves who were without masters, and formerly affluent individuals suffered due to the shortage of help. With the imbalance of workers and work, it can be certain that the economy suffered major losses, with work undone and land left abandoned. In the presence of this epidemic, every economic activity was completely abandoned. All work was terminated, and all artistic trades were deserted, which led to a severe case of inflation. Overall, Constantinople and the surrounding Mediterranean experienced an abrupt halt in their economy. Furthermore, starvation became less uncommon, and it was considered to be a “very notable thing to have a sufficiency of bread or of anything else” (Procopius). Due to this lack of supplies, the mortality rate further increased, especially with the sharp rise of deaths related to the Plague of Justinian. In a shocking contrast, the luxurious Byzantine Empire disintegrated into a terribly impoverished state. Likewise, the brutal conditions of the plague forced the economy into abrupt and extreme inflation during the Black Death. Due to the difficulty and danger of procuring goods through trade for production, the prices of both goods produced locally and those imported from other lands increased
Due to its ideal location, Constantinople was a thriving trade center with a stable economy. However, with the Plague of Justinian, “slaves remained destitute of masters, and men who in former times were very prosperous were deprived of the service of their domestics who were either sick or dead…and work of every description ceased, and all the trades were abandoned by the artisans and all other work as well, such as each had in hand” (Procopius). In result of a skyrocketing mortality rate, there were multiple slaves who were without masters, and formerly affluent individuals suffered due to the shortage of help. With the imbalance of workers and work, it can be certain that the economy suffered major losses, with work undone and land left abandoned. In the presence of this epidemic, every economic activity was completely abandoned. All work was terminated, and all artistic trades were deserted, which led to a severe case of inflation. Overall, Constantinople and the surrounding Mediterranean experienced an abrupt halt in their economy. Furthermore, starvation became less uncommon, and it was considered to be a “very notable thing to have a sufficiency of bread or of anything else” (Procopius). Due to this lack of supplies, the mortality rate further increased, especially with the sharp rise of deaths related to the Plague of Justinian. In a shocking contrast, the luxurious Byzantine Empire disintegrated into a terribly impoverished state. Likewise, the brutal conditions of the plague forced the economy into abrupt and extreme inflation during the Black Death. Due to the difficulty and danger of procuring goods through trade for production, the prices of both goods produced locally and those imported from other lands increased