[blam]

Catastrophic Event Preceded The Dark Ages

[Little Bill]

His difficulties were immeasurably increased by the devastation wrought by the plague carried westward by the returning legions of Verus, by famine and earthquakes, and by inundations which destroyed the vast granaries of Rome and their contents.

In the panic and terror caused by these events the people resorted to the extremes of superstition to win back the favour of the deities through whose anger it was believed these visitations were inflicted.

Strange rites of expiation and sacrifice were resorted to, victims were slain by thousands, and the assistance of the gods of the Orient sought for as well as that of the gods of Rome.

This is from the time of Marcus Aurelius, 181 AD, sounds like something happened. The depopulation of the next few centuries can be traced to this time.

[altair]

That was an interesting link. Thanks.