The Black Death: The Great Mortality of 1348-1350: A Brief History with Documents

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Palgrave Macmillan, Mar 2, 2005 - History - 208 pages
A fascinating account of the phenomenon known as the Black Death, this volume offers a wealth of documentary material focused on the initial outbreak of the plague that ravaged the world in the 14th century. A comprehensive introduction that provides important background on the origins and spread of the plague is followed by nearly 50 documents organized into topical sections that focus on the origin and spread of the illness; the responses of medical practitioners; the societal and economic impact; religious responses; the flagellant movement and attacks on Jews provoked by the plague; and the artistic response. Each chapter has an introduction that summarizes the issues explored in the documents; headnotes to the documents provide additional background material. The book contains documents from many countries - including Muslim and Byzantine sources - to give students a variety of perspectives on this devastating illness and its consequences. The volume also includes illustrations, a chronology of the Black Death, and questions to consider.

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About the author (2005)

John Aberth serves as associate academic dean at Castleton State College, where he teaches history. He is the author of several books including Churchmen in the Age of Edward III: The Case of Bishop Thomas de Lisle (1996), From the Brink of the Apocalypse: Confronting Famine, War, Plague and Death (2000), and A Knight at the Movies: Medieval History on Film (2003).

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