Justinian's Flea

In Justinian's Flea, William Rosen chronicles the life and reign of Emperor Justinian, who successfully reunified the Roman Empire but faced a catastrophic challenge in the summer of 542 when bubonic plague struck Constantinople. This first pandemic, occurring seven centuries before the Black Death, devastated populations across the empire and beyond, influencing the course of history. Through a blend of evolutionary microbiology, economics, military strategy, and medicine, Rosen provides a compelling narrative that highlights a pivotal moment that reshaped the ancient world.