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Epidemias y Plagas Antiguas
Epidemias y Plagas Antiguas
Overview HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS The Macedonian Empire (Alexander The Great) The Roman Empire China (Han Dynasty) Persia and India HEALTH AND DISEASE Malaria Plague of Orosius The Antonine And Cyprian Plagues The Justinian Plague
China
Qin dynasty unified China in 221 BC, but was shortlived. Han dynasty established 202 BC. Lasted 400 years. Main focus was around the Hwang Ho. Development of the Yangtze was inhibited by tropical diseases (e.g. malaria, dengue, schistosomiasis).
Seluccid Empire
Parthian Empire
Trade
The four main regions of civilisation formed a ring around the periphery of Asia. The central areas remained sparsely populated. A direct trade route (the Silk Road) was established between China and the Roman empire. Roman ships traded with the Middle East and India through the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
Malaria
Malaria turned the rich agricultural Campagna Romano region into a malarial wasteland. Only made habitable again in the late 19th / early 20th centuries.
Early Epidemics
Rome was hit by a major epidemic in 79AD. Rome was hit by another epidemic (the Plague of Orosius) in 125AD which had originated in Africa where it reportedly killed 1 million people. Roman army lost 30,000 men.