Malaria and Rome: A History of Malaria in Ancient Italy [Hardcover]

Robert Sallares (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0199248508 | ISBN-13: 978-0199248506 | Publication Date: November 7, 2002

Malaria and Rome is the first comprehensive book on the history of malaria in Roman Italy. Aimed at an interdisciplinary readership, it explores the evolution and ecology of malaria, its medical and demographic effects on human populations in antiquity, its social and economic effects, the human responses to it, and the human interpretations of it.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An important book with serious claims to make about the nature of the disease environments of Roman Italy, with wider implications for our understanding of Mediterranean history."-- American Historical Review

"Bringing together ancient literary and archaeological evidence, comparative historical material on malaria, and the latest scientific research on the disease and its ecology, Sallares shows that [the malarial strain] P. Falciparum can be traced far back into Greek and Italian history.... The demographic impact of this expanding pattern of disease is Sallares's main concern, and he provides a broad overview and a series of local studies to demonstrate it."--Times Literary Supplement

About the Author

Robert Sallares is Research Fellow in Biomolecular Sciences, UMIST.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 360 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (November 7, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0199248508
• ISBN-13: 978-0199248506
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,037,768 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Students review, February 6, 2011

By 

Jonathan Weiland - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Malaria and Rome: A History of Malaria in Ancient Italy (Hardcover)

As a classic's student and one who studies the subject area of diseases in the ancient world and their impact on the lower classes, I've read most of the works in English on the subject. This book is by far the most extensive treatment of Malaria and it's impact on Romans on the Italian Peninsula. When I first read the book I was unfamiliar with the details and the book illustrated all those points very well. The author is also responsible for identifying the earliest recorded cases of Malaria on the peninsula using DNA extraction.

4.0 out of 5 stars Everything you ever wanted to know about malaria and Rome but were afraid to ask, July 10, 2010

By 

Evan the Dweezil (A Place-Sort Of, Montana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Malaria and Rome: A History of Malaria in Ancient Italy (Hardcover)

For people who are researching disease in the ancient world, this book is a treasure trove of information. The bibliography alone is worth finding this book. It's well written and presented in a manner that's not going to completely overwhelm people. With it's combination of ancient, historical, and modern findings, Malaria and Rome is a comprehensive review of the topic.