Overview

A truly definitive work, this magisterial study draws on the latest evidence from across Europe to show in exhaustive detail the nature of the disease, its origin, spread, mortality, and its profound impact on history. The Black Death was a disaster of huge magnitude, shaking medieval Europe and beyond to its economic and social core. Building upon his acclaimed study of 2004, Ole Benedictow here draws upon new scholarship and research to present a comprehensive, definitive account of the Black Death and its impact on European history. The medical and epidemiological characteristics of the disease, its geographical origin, its spread across Asia Minor, the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and Russia, and the mortality in the countries and regions for which there are satisfactory studies, are clearly presented and thoroughly discussed. The pattern, pace and seasonality of the spread of the disease reflect current medical work and standard studies on the epidemiology of bubonic plague. Benedictow's findings make it clear that the true mortality rate was far higher than had been previously thought: some 60% of Europe's population. In the light of those findings, the discussion of the Black Death as a turning point in history takes on a new significance.

Full Product Details

Author:   Professor Ole J Benedictow
Publisher:   Boydell & Brewer Ltd
Imprint:   Boydell & Brewer
Weight:   0.001kg
ISBN:  

9781837652099

ISBN 10:   1837652090
Pages:   1058
Publication Date:   24 September 2024
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
This item will be ordered in for you from one of our suppliers. Upon receipt, we will promptly dispatch it out to you. For in store availability, please contact us.

Table of Contents

Preface The Black Death The Black Death: the epidemic disaster that made history The Return of the Black Death and the Response Transmission of Lethal Doses of Bacteria in Bubonic Plague Medical and Clinical Features of Bubonic Plague Basic Aspects of the Epidemiology of Bubonic Plague Historical Presence and Role of Black Rats in the Black Death (and Later Plague Epidemics) Seasonality of Bubonic Plague Short History of plague before the Black Death The Original Outbreak and early Spread of the Black Death in the Lands of the Golden Horde Ships and Sailing Rates: The Importance of Ships in the Spread of the Black Death The Caucasus, Asia Minor, the Middle East and North Africa Mediterranean Europe: The Establishment of Epicentres of Spread of the Black Death in Greece, Italy and France The Balkan Countries and North-Eastern Italy: The Role of Venetian Galleys in the Spread of the Black Death on the Eastern Coast of the Adriatic Sea to Venice The Iberian Peninsula: The Spanish Kingdoms, the Kingdom of Portugal, and the Kingdom of Grenada Italy France Belgium Switzerland Britain Ireland Norway Denmark Sweden The Netherlands Austria Hungary Germany and the State of the Order of the Teutonic Knights (Prussia and the Baltic Countries) Bohemia Poland Russia Some Countries or Regions that Escaped the Black Death Patterns of Conquest, Dynamics of Spread The Black Death established a Plague Reservoir among Black Rats and the Realm of the Second Plague Pandemic The Medieval Demographic System Structures of Medieval Demography and the Demography of Historical Plague Studies Spain Italy France and the County of Savoy Belgium Germany England How many people died in the Black Death? The Inverse Correlation between Mortality rate and Population Density: Why the Black Death could kill around 60% of Europe's Population The Black Death: a Turning Point in History? Bibliography

Reviews

[T]he Complete History of the Black Death is a very significant contribution to plague research. I am particularly impressed with Benedictow's strenuous efforts at not just revisiting this book 18 years later but so significantly expanding it. If you read the first edition or used it in your research, you will need to upgrade to this second edition. * THE INQUISITIVE BIOLOGIST * Ole J. Benedictow's The Complete History of the Black Death is a career-defining book. [...] It is an incredible feat of research, organization, collation, and data extraction. -- H-NET REVIEWS This edition, like its predecessor, offers an impressive collection of data related to the geographical and chronological spread of the Black Death. [...] Useful and informative. -- MEDIEVAL ARCHAEOLOGY Excellent for courses on the medieval period or the history of science. Highly recommended. -- CHOICE

"[T]he Complete History of the Black Death is a very significant contribution to plague research. I am particularly impressed with Benedictow's strenuous efforts at not just revisiting this book 18 years later but so significantly expanding it. If you read the first edition or used it in your research, you will need to upgrade to this second edition.-- ""THE INQUISITIVE BIOLOGIST"" Excellent for courses on the medieval period or the history of science. Highly recommended.--CHOICE Ole J. Benedictow's The Complete History of the Black Death is a career-defining book. [...] It is an incredible feat of research, organization, collation, and data extraction.--H-NET REVIEWS This edition, like its predecessor, offers an impressive collection of data related to the geographical and chronological spread of the Black Death. [...] Useful and informative.--MEDIEVAL ARCHAEOLOGY"

Author Information

OLE J. BENEDICTOW is Professor of History at the University of Oslo.

Tab Content 6

Author Website:  

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

No review item found!

Add your own review!

Countries Available

All regions