The Justinian plaque, in the sixth century, devastated mostly eastern Mediterranean and, by then, charted world to the east and south, but spared most of continental Europe. North Africa was the putative origin of the outbreak. The plague had a great effect on the Roman Empire. For one, it coincided with the Gothic and subsequent Germanic invasions directed at both the Eastern and Western Empire. Emperor Justinian did all he could to stop the plague in its moving west and north. Partially his efforts may have been successful if one considers the comparison with the outbreak that would devastate Europe 8 centuries later, yet, it seems, it was the decisive blow to the Western Empire -- the plague coupled with barbaric invasions. The plans to unite the Western and Eastern Empire were never realized and the control over the rest of the Roman Europe shrunk effectively to the Italian South. Another downside was the spread of Islam to Spain and its attempts to conquer more.
Which way the European history would go if this plague never happened? There still were the Germanic invasions the Romans had to recon with and Hunnish residues, and Avars and Bulgars who controlled lands right next to Byzantium. Can't forget well organized and aggressive Islamic expansions.
Which way the European history would go if this plague never happened? There still were the Germanic invasions the Romans had to recon with and Hunnish residues, and Avars and Bulgars who controlled lands right next to Byzantium. Can't forget well organized and aggressive Islamic expansions.