Justinianic Plague: Beware of Scholarship From Untested Hypotheses

Source: Ancient-Origins.net

Every now and then, in my literary meanderings, I come across a truly intriguing read.

This paper, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, beautifully researches the socioeconomic impact of the Justinianic (Bubonic) Plague (circa 541 to 750 CE), an epidemic which presumably precipitated the Dark Ages.

The scholars reviewed papyri, inscriptions, coins (currency), pollen, Yersinia pestis DNA  and burials concluding that no convincing evidence exists to support the assertion that the Justinianic Plague reduced the population of Europe by one third.

No doubt, the Justinianic plague, also known at the "First Pandemic, was significant, yet not nearly as much as the Second Pandemic and the Black Death.

To quote the authors- "More broadly,  the scholarly treatment of the JP demonstrates the dangers of uncritical multidisciplinary." Bravo.

Beware the dangers of scholarship from untested hypotheses.