The Black Death: The World’s Most Devastating Plague

Taught by a celebrated medievalist, go on an unforgettable excursion into the time period of the plague, its full human repercussions, and its transformative effects on European civilization.

Overview

Course No. 8241

Professor Dorsey Armstrong’s 24-lecture course examines:

• The epidemiological mysteries of Yersinia pestis
• The plague’s spread from Caffa to England
• Societal breakdowns and religious upheavals
• Artistic and literary responses to mass death

From flagellant processions to economic revolutions, discover how the 14th-century pandemic reshaped medieval Europe.

Video Lectures

Part 1: The Plague’s Onslaught

1-5. Epidemiology and Spread (29-32 min)
Medical theories, Crimean origins, Florence’s devastation.

6-12. Regional Impacts (29-32 min)
French hedonism, English manors, Scandinavian folklore.

Part 2: Societal Responses

13-19. Cultural Shockwaves (30-32 min)
Anti-Semitic violence, memento mori art, Chaucer’s inspiration.

Part 3: Transformations

20-24. Lasting Consequences (30-32 min)
Labor revolutions, political shifts, later outbreaks.