“A Time to Die: Preliminary Notes on Seasonal Mortality in Late Antique Rome,” in eds. C. Laes, K. Mustakallio, V. Vuolanto, Children and Family in Late Antiquity. Life, Death and Interaction (Leuven, 2015) 15-34. (original) (raw)

This work examines seasonal mortality in Late Antique Rome, illustrating the profound effects of infectious diseases on mortality rates, particularly among vulnerable populations such as infants and the elderly. By synthesizing literary and epigraphic data, it underscores the need for a demographic study to explore patterns of life and death, revealing how ancient societies were shaped by biological and ecological factors in their struggle against disease. The narrative of individual deaths serves as a lens through which the broader social and demographic trends of the time can be understood.