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A plague spreads through the empire

165–180 CE, the Roman Empire. An event.

Where and when

165–180 CEthe Roman Empire, not on the map

about 1,861 years ago

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, the Roman Empire

Troops returning from the east bring a disease, probably smallpox, that kills millions. Wikipedia cites a line of Marcus' Meditations as an echo of it.

For the destruction of the understanding is a pestilence, much more, indeed, than any such corruption and change of this atmosphere which surrounds us.

Marcus Aurelius 9.2Translated by George Long (1862)Read the full passage (Marcus Aurelius 9.2, opens gutenberg.org)

Background: Antonine Plague, Wikipedia (opens en.wikipedia.org)

Why it matters

It was the first known pandemic of the Roman Empire, and historians generally agree the empire's population peaked around its arrival and declined afterwards.

Based on Wikipedia: Antonine Plague

Epidemics were common in the ancient world, but the Antonine plague was the first known pandemic of the Roman Empire.

Historians generally agree that the population of the Roman Empire peaked at about the time that the Antonine Plague appeared and, thereafter, the population declined.

Wikipedia, Antonine Plague (opens en.wikipedia.org), as of 2026-07-27. Text CC BY-SA 4.0. Our line is checked against these sentences only.

Related moments

In time order, with this one in its place. Each says why it is here.

  1. 430 BCEabout 594 years earlier Plague breaks out in Athens Also about the plague
  2. 430 BCE, written laterabout 594 years earlier Thucydides on the plague in Athens Also about the plague
  3. 165–180 CEThis momentA plague spreads through the empire
  4. 170–180 CEabout 5 years later Marcus Aurelius writes notes to himself at the front Same years
  5. c. 170–180 CEabout 10 years later Marcus Aurelius on what his mother taught Nearest in time
  6. c. 170–180 CEabout 10 years later Marcus Aurelius on what Rusticus taught him Nearest in time

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