Die Justinianische Pest

Abstract

Abstract Of all known epidemics in Antiquity, the Justinianic Plague became the focus of attention in recent years - not least because it is the first for which the causative agent, the bacterium Yersinia pestis, could be unambiguously identified by palaeogeneticists. The reconstruction of ancient Y. pestis genomes is able to uncover the geographical and temporal extent of the pandemic beyond the limitations of written sources; and phylogenetic studies allow for inferences on the origin and spread of plague through time. But even the mere identification of plague victims in Late Antique and Early Medieval cemeteries offers insights in the crisis management and reactions of past societies to the irruption of the unfathomable, to which historical scholarship - generally based on written sources - has only limited access. However, attempts on the integration of natural scientific research on epidemics and climatic shifts in history are notoriously accused of determinism or an oversimplification of complex coherencies. Therefore, mutual understanding of methodologies and epistemologies of different disciplines is a fundamental prerequisite to avoid simplistic causal inferences from correlations and circular arguments, and lead to a better understanding of the Justinianic Plague and accompanying processes through an integrative approach.