165–180 CEReputable sourceWell documented
The Antonine Plague
On the timeline · around 165–180 CE · The Ancient Plagues
What happened
Roman legions returning from campaigns in the East carried a terrible sickness — probably smallpox — back to the empire. The Antonine Plague raged for fifteen years, killing an estimated five million people across the Roman world, and struck again a generation later.
Why it matters
The Antonine Plague drained the manpower and economy of the Roman Empire at its height, weakening its armies and society and marking the beginning of Rome's long slide from its second-century peak.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Antonine Plague · Reputable source
Related timelines
- Ancient Rome → — The plague that struck Rome at its height