In the year 541 death fell upon the Byzantine Empire. Brought across the sea by rats on trading boats from the ports of Egypt, the Justinian Plague swept through its namesake's empire, leaving 25-50 million people dead before it had run its full course. At its worst 5000 people were dying in Constantinople a day. This is an extract from Procopius' 'History of The Wars' in which he details the spread of the disease, and how it thoroughly and mercilessly "destroyed men".

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Source: The Internet History Sourcebook.