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The Black Death: The World's Most Devastating Plague
- Narrated by: Dorsey Armstrong
- Length: 12 hrs and 10 mins
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The Black Death: The World's Most Devastating Plague
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Summary
Many of us know the Black Death as a catastrophic event of the medieval world. But the Black Death was arguably the most significant event in Western history, profoundly affecting every aspect of human life, from the economic and social to the political, religious, and cultural. In its wake the plague left a world that was utterly changed, forever altering the traditional structure of European societies and forcing a rethinking of every single system of Western civilization: food production and trade, the church, political institutions, law, art, and more. In large measure, by the profundity of the changes it brought, the Black Death produced the modern world we live in today.
While the story of the Black Death is one of destruction and loss, its breathtaking scope and effects make it one of the most compelling and deeply intriguing episodes in human history. Understanding the remarkable unfolding of the plague and its aftermath provides a highly revealing window not only on the medieval world but also on the forces that brought about the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, and modernity itself.
Speaking to the full magnitude of this world-changing historical moment, The Black Death: The World's Most Devastating Plague, taught by celebrated medievalist Dorsey Armstrong of Purdue University, takes you on an unforgettable excursion into the time period of the plague, its full human repercussions, and its transformative effects on European civilization. In 24 richly absorbing lectures, you'll follow the path of the epidemic in its complete trajectory across medieval Europe. Majestic in scope and remarkable in detail, this course goes to the heart of one of Western history's most catalytic and galvanizing moments, the effects of which gave us the modern world.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.
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- Sandy Knowles
- 02-09-20
Utterly brilliant...!!!
This book without doubt, is one of the most fascinating I have ever listened to. Dorsey Armstrong’s narration was superb and infused with her obvious love of medieval history and extensive knowledge of the period. I had always been interested in the topic of The Black Death and Dorsey truly brought this wholly catastrophic event to life in an erudite and compassionate way. I cannot recommended this book highly enough....!
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- Michael Bulcock
- 31-10-22
Fantastic
very easy to listen to and the narrator makes it so real and interesting with her engaging voice. incredibly interesting, an insight into what must have been terrifying
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- MrLGaunt
- 16-08-16
Informative and excellent
This was very well read, with a great level of detail without being too much. I'd been looking for a history of the Black Death for a while and this was just what I was looking for.
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4 people found this helpful
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- M J North
- 14-05-17
great course. so much info. loved it.
the prof was entertaining and her voice helped to understand and take in the info. i love these great courses as i can study my favorite subjects in my garden instead of sitting in a cold lecture theatre. thanks for another great audio book. Mike N...
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4 people found this helpful
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- Katy
- 16-10-22
My favourite orator!
A really interesting subject that was very well delivered. Dorsey Armstrong is definitely my favourite on The Great Courses series.
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- Laurence Lynch
- 25-07-19
exceptional
great set of lectures about a subject I thought i knew alot about. but this really opens your eyes in regards to how the world reacted to such a massive outbreak
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3 people found this helpful
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- Lindsey Clark
- 03-02-23
Exceptionally informative
This is well written, well read and has been easy to follow.
Ebola, SARS and MERS are referenced.
Add COVID at the end and it fits straight in.
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- Ms. L. Benjamin
- 15-01-23
Enthusiastic Speaker
I really enjoyed listening and learning. It's in the format of lectures, rather than a book.
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- Douglas
- 20-01-20
Very educational, wholly gripping and often tragic
A fantastic book giving you a complete, and I do mean complete, overview of the Black death (or the great mortality). It covers all the outbreaks, locations, current theories and understandings of how it was transmitted, whether it was just the pestis plague or a combination. How the plague arrived, how it occurred in the first place, covering first hand accounts and data from deaths.
Dorsey Armstrong uses very clear language and explains scientific terms. She is very pleasant to listen to using different voice tones to convey her meanings very well.
Topics are often repeated, revisited or reminded, so you start remembering and putting everything into context.
Fantastic book, I highly recommend for anyone studying history from 1348 onwards.
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- MMM
- 22-05-22
Flippin Awesome
This course is a rollicking listen. Truckloads of anecdotes, information, historical events, personalities. It's got it all. A marvellous portal into the late Middle Ages. Dorsey Armstrong is a terrific lecturer. Very scholarly, and very fair-minded too. Her approach is exceptionally down-to-earth.
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