Overview

In the mid-fourteenth century the Black Death ravaged Europe, leading to dramatic population drop and social upheavals. Recurring plague outbreaks together with social factors pushed Europe into a deep crisis that lasted for more than a century. The plague and the crisis, and in particular their short-term and long-term consequences for society, have been the matter of continuous debate. Most of the research so far has been based on the study of written sources, and the dominating perspective has been the one of economic history. A different approach is presented here by using evidence and techniques from archaeology and the natural sciences. Special focus is on environmental and social changes in the wake of the Black Death. Pollen and tree-ring data are used to gain new insights into farm abandonment and agricultural change, and to point to the important environmental and ecological consequences of the crisis. The archaeological record shows that the crisis was not only characterised by abandonment and decline, but also how families and households survived by swiftly developing new strategies during these uncertain times. Finally, stature and isotope studies are applied to human skeletons from medieval churchyards to reveal changes in health and living conditions during the crisis. The conclusions are put in wider perspective that highlights the close relationship between society and the environment and the historical importance of past epidemics.

Full Product Details

Author:   Per Lagerås
Publisher:   Oxbow Books
Imprint:   Oxbow Books
Dimensions:   Width: 17.00cm , Height: 1.50cm , Length: 24.20cm
Weight:   0.499kg
ISBN:  

9781785700545

ISBN 10:   1785700545
Pages:   208
Publication Date:   30 November 2015
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Preface   Part I. Introduction Per Lagerås     1. An interdisciplinary approach   2. Current knowledge on the late-medieval crisis   3. Societal crisis and environmental change   Part II. Empirical studies 4. Abandonment, agricultural change and ecology  Per Lagerås, Anna Broström, Daniel Fredh, Hans Linderson, Anna Berg, Leif Björkman, Tove Hultberg, Sven Karlsson, Matts Lindbladh, Florence Mazier, Ulf Segerström & Eva Sköld   5. Change, desertion and survival – an archaeology of the late-medieval crisis Lars Ersgård   6. Living conditions in times of plague Caroline Arcini, T. Douglas Price, Maria Cinthio, Leena Drenzel, Mats Andersson, Bodil Persson, Hanna Menander, Maria Vretemark, Anna Kjellström, Rickard Hedvall and Göran Tagesson   Part III. Conclusions in a wider perspective 7. Environment–society interactions Per Lagerås   8. Studying the late-medieval crisis – reflections on research perspectives Lars Ersgård   9. Epidemics in a social context Caroline Arcini   10. Summary of conclusions Per Lagerås   References Author presentations   Appendix 1. Pollen sites Appendix 2. Osteological stature data Appendix 3. Isotope data

Reviews

The Black Death swept through Europe in the 14th century, plunging Europe into social and economic crisis for more than an century. Though documented in historical sources, here the main authors and colleagues examine evidence for the catastrophe and its aftermath in Sweden with data accumulated through an interdisciplinary approach that meshes laboratory analysis of human and environmental remains with old-fashioned dirt archaeology. Illustrated with maps, charts, graphs and photographs, the publication may appeal more to scholars that casual enthusiasts, but it is a fascinating read for anyone with an interest in this pivotal period for European history. -- Caitlin McCall Current World Archaeology

...extremely well illustrated, and care is taken to ontroduce readers to scientific technoques (e.g. stable isotope analysis). While the overall conclusions are ones that we might have expected, within the context of a poorly doucmented region such as Sweden they provide important confirmation that human responses to the late medieval crisis closely resemble those seen elsewhere in north-west Europe. -- Stephen Rippon Medieval Archaeology haeology This admirably thoughtful book deserves a large readership because it offers a wide ranging interpretation of an important subject, and because it serves as a model of interdisciplinary coordination. -- Christopher Dyer Medieval Archaeology haeology Illustrated with maps, charts, graphs and photographs, the publication may appeal more to scholars that casual enthusiasts, but it is a fascinating read for anyone with an interest in this pivotal period for European history. -- Caitlin McCall Current World Archaeology

Author Information

Per Lagerås is Associate Professor in agrarian history at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Doctor in Quaternary Geology at Lund University. Holds a position at the National Historical Museums in Sweden and his main research interests are vegetation history, cultural landscape development and human-environment interactions.

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