This short article is not about the likely Fall of America from alleged widespread political corruption and loss of overall social values. Political and social pundits have these to write and talk about. My role here is to educate us briefly on the Fall of the Roman Empire, not from conquest by vicious enemies who are combatants but from microscopic enemies. My hope is this will give us insights into America's possible fate.
Rome largely fell, at least its Eastern stronghold did, not from politics and debauchery but from precisely that of which I speak: an infectious disease. This disease is commonly known as the Bubonic Plague. At the time, It was called the Justinian Plague, named for Rome's Emperor. But it should have been called the World Plague. It is so far the worst apocalypse to hit the world.
This apocalypse was one of the most devastating disasters in the history of the world. And it not only can happen again, I believe it will happen again. Those who do not prepare themselves will be at the mercy not only of nature but also of our mortal enemies, including disease-bearing terrorists and hostile nations.
In the case of the Roman Empire, the spread was quick, broad, deep, enormous, recurring, and deadly. People died on the streets and in their homes at such an explosive rate that loved ones and neighbors postponed their burials for days or weeks. When eventually buried, most were buried in mass graves or out to sea.
This World Pandemic hit the then-powerful Eastern Empire, the Justinian Roman Empire, starting in 527 AD. And then it regularly represented itself repeatedly for most of the next 40-some years. Finally, it only subsided in 565 AD. By then, the Romans were quite literally on their knees.
