Theodora - X: This is My Empire - Extra History
Added 2016-02-12 12:26:38 +0000 UTCWhen a shadow engulfs the empire - and Justinian - it is only Theodora who can save it.
Comments
This series was wonderful. I'm glad you guys got to tell a part of history that you were passionate about
Andrew Nichols
2016-02-26 07:49:35 +0000 UTCAbsolutely amazing. The story telling, the drawings... just wow. The blood puking was really nice! I mean the drawing
Martin Ockovsky
2016-02-18 08:03:54 +0000 UTCAh! That's what my gut told me but I had no basis for that other than hunch. It's a shame because that would have helped in many ways.
Robbie the Gnome
2016-02-13 21:47:09 +0000 UTCYeah, cremation was forbidden in Christian doctrine of the time.
Extra History
2016-02-13 20:17:30 +0000 UTCThe Antonine Plague probably reached Rome as a result of the war Marcus Aurelius had with the Parthians too. Soldiers moving around the world can be a great - for a certain definition of great - vector for this stuff.
RMS Oceanic
2016-02-13 09:25:52 +0000 UTCWow the visual characterization of the Plague was fantastic. A well wrought piece. An unfortunate side effect of booming and far reaching trade and far reaching campaigns of war is coming into new devastating and diseases. Did they not try to burn the bodies? Or was that too pagan?
Robbie the Gnome
2016-02-13 06:26:24 +0000 UTCThe major empires are usually the first to record these new diseases (because we are more likely to have their records than, say, a small nomadic culture's) but the fact that they're centers of trade and therefore exposure to lots of different infections does also raise the odds of people getting sick there. Then, in turn, the trade that goes out from them spreads those diseases even farther, same as rats on grain-bearing ships leaving Alexandria carried the plague very efficiently through the rest of the empire.
Extra History
2016-02-13 04:35:14 +0000 UTCPoor Justinian.
Extra History
2016-02-13 04:22:54 +0000 UTCNot really intentional, but they do go together quite nicely! And it was great that Theodora finally got some time to shine.
Extra History
2016-02-13 04:22:48 +0000 UTCThere's always the future!
Extra History
2016-02-13 04:22:05 +0000 UTCAnd it was all a dream...
Extra History
2016-02-13 04:20:44 +0000 UTCWe're devils, we are. Evil cliffhanger using devils!
Extra History
2016-02-13 04:20:26 +0000 UTCCall it... what?
Extra History
2016-02-13 04:20:07 +0000 UTCHuh! That's actually news to me about the co-incidence of wars and plagues.
Extra History
2016-02-13 04:19:05 +0000 UTCIt is a good story, but I do love me some Snopes.
Extra History
2016-02-13 04:15:08 +0000 UTCDavid excels at this kind of thing!
Extra History
2016-02-13 04:14:58 +0000 UTCIt's a myth that ring around the rosie is about the plague if that's what you're implying. (<a href="http://www.snopes.com/language/literary/rosie.asp)" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://www.snopes.com/language/literary/rosie.asp)</a>
Mark Harviston
2016-02-13 01:09:42 +0000 UTCYeah. Little disturbing when you learn the song you sang as a kid was about death eh?
Sean Sarff
2016-02-12 23:59:45 +0000 UTCGreat visualization of the horrible plague!
Markus Berglund
2016-02-12 22:10:46 +0000 UTCRing Around the Rosie, of course.
Tiberia Prima
2016-02-12 21:36:19 +0000 UTCTrivia question: Who can name the song that is directly about the Bubonic Plague?
Sean Sarff
2016-02-12 20:58:48 +0000 UTCThis is the first written appearance of the Bubonic Plague in recorded history and was dubbed The Plague of Justinian. And was more than likely passed along by trade from China or India. As for your interest in war, funnily enough war usually causes outbreaks. Think about it, rats and other vermin live in cities, out of sight of the populace so that they can be near a food supply. An army comes in and sieges a town. Food eventually runs out and now all of those rats are loose searching for something to eat. Some end up with the attacking army and they spread the plague wherever the army goes. It's no coincidence that during and after a war, there's usually some kind of sickness that is spread.
Sean Sarff
2016-02-12 20:50:16 +0000 UTCLess Bellisarius taking over, and more the various factions of Rome simply going into open revolt and removing Justinian from power while he lay comatose. Theodora removing Bellisarius as a possible candidate removed a powerful figure head for the factions to rally behind. Without him, there was nothing for the factions wanting to rally to and likely went back to the same petty squabbles of trying to elevate their own factions.
Sean Sarff
2016-02-12 20:44:51 +0000 UTCThere was a black death before the Black Death? Crikes, I need to read more about history that isn't just about war and tactics.
Hung Nguyen
2016-02-12 20:32:05 +0000 UTCI wonder how Bellisarius felt during his trial/punishment. Was Theodora truely scared of Bellisarius taking power or was this a political move to show the people Theodora was in control..
Jane
2016-02-12 19:33:23 +0000 UTCA twist that turns into a cliffhanger
James
2016-02-12 19:29:39 +0000 UTCI know this is a strange comment considering this is history, but I wait for a series to be finished before I read more. "DAMN CLIFF HANGERS! WOKE UP AND!"
Laura Galm
2016-02-12 18:16:38 +0000 UTCThat's what happens when you're the first civilization to rule a continent and a half and keep meticulous records for 2000 years.
Trevor Sullivan
2016-02-12 15:38:47 +0000 UTCThen... he woke up....
Dave Hoyt
2016-02-12 14:19:19 +0000 UTCRome seems to get hit with a lot of the all time deadliest illnesses first, at least in Civilizations with written records: It was thought the Antonine Plague was the first appearance of Smallpox, the Cyprian Plague was possibly Measles' debut, and Emperors were struck down by both. It must have been seen as nothing short of miraculous that Justinian recovered. Meanwhile Bellisarius is a victim of his own success. It's a shame, but I can appreciate the dicey position Theodora found herself in.
RMS Oceanic
2016-02-12 13:39:21 +0000 UTCMen plan and god laughs.
Michael Waisfeld
2016-02-12 12:58:31 +0000 UTCI love how this either intentionally or not ties into the last series with John Snow & Mary Seacole. I've also been waiting to hear more about Theodora since the beginning. I can't wait for more as the plague does off.
Aaron hutchinson
2016-02-12 12:45:22 +0000 UTCHoly, this is a horrifying way of telling the story of the plague, makes me wish we had voted for a whole series just on plague.
Alan Haskayne
2016-02-12 12:40:10 +0000 UTC
