Roman Empire Plagues Linked to Cold, Dry Climate Snaps

Scientists have linked plagues that ravaged Roman Italy, including the Justinian Plague, to changing climate conditions. Research from the universities of Bremen and Oklahoma suggests that extreme temperature drops in the region were associated with major disease outbreaks during the Roman period. The study, published in Science Advances, used marine sediments to reconstruct climate changes from 200 BCE to 600 CE, revealing a correlation between colder weather and infectious disease outbreaks. While modern medicine has advanced, understanding the historical links between climate change and disease dynamics could provide insights into the challenges posed by today's changing climate.