The Black Death: The Great Mortality of 1348-1350: A Brief History with Documents (The Bedford Series in History and Culture)

By John Aberth

Book Overview

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 fourteenth 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, questions to consider, a selected bibliography, and an index.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 031240087X
• ISBN13: 9780312400873
• Release Date: February 2005
• Publisher: Bedford Books
• Length: 199 Pages
• Weight: 0.52 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.4" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

scholarly

Good book, the important primary source documents are there. The discussions of them are brief but good.

Great read if you have to read it!

Read it for Western Civs class don't regret it, it has great letters and documents. A great pre-renaissance read.

Black Death Review

This book was very informative about the Plague. The documents were very helpful in understand the different aspects of the Plague, including the social political and economical. It was also an easy read.