The Black Death: The World's Most Devastating Plague
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The Black Death: The World's Most Devastating Plague
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Narrated by:
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Dorsey Armstrong
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Written by:
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Dorsey Armstrong
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The Great Courses
About this listen
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 Library section along with the audio.
©2016 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2016 The Great CoursesWhat listeners say about The Black Death: The World's Most Devastating Plague
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Xyo
- 2023-05-11
Very interesting!
I didn't know nearly as much as I thought I did about one of histories most traumatic events. It was fascinating as a result to learn just how much the Great Pestilence impacted not just society but the cultures of art and literature for centuries to come.
Both the material and its presenter are excellent!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Tracy
- 2021-11-13
Very Timely!
I love disaster books, and the plague certainly fits. The chapters are easy to listen to, you can listen in small bites. And it is so scary to see how the plagie mirrors our current pandemic - whole towns closing down, going into isolation, etc.
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- JohnS
- 2021-04-07
Excellent!
This is my second time listening to this course during the pandemic, and I learned more than during my first listen. Professor Armstrong presents the material in a clear and easy way for a layperson to grasp easily. I have no hesitation in recommending this course. I will definitely complete other history courses by this professor.
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- Brenda
- 2023-11-21
I really interesting book to listen to
I’ve learned so much about the plague, and listening to this audiobook really Shone certain light to our behaviours within the COVID-19 pandemic. A good lesson
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Duane Dewey MacLEOD
- 2019-12-20
An immersion beyond expectation
A morbid curiosity and fascination with Middle age history drew me to these lectures. I was not disappointed. From start to finish, it was ride that I will likely take again. I never re-read (or listen to) books, the only exception being Sapiens and Homo Deus, and now The Black Death: The World's Most Devastating Plague. Well done Dorsey.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- A
- 2020-09-14
great lecture series!
When I first saw this lecture series, I thought it would be hours of dry academic lessons. That could not be further from the truth. The teacher is young and enthusiastic which makes the lessons always interesting. The length of each of them (about 30 mins) is perfect for being able to dive into a topic but not too long that it's overly burdensome. Overall great subject matter that is all the more relevant due to our current pandemic. Definitely recommend.
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- Zachary
- 2023-01-27
In a (Near) post Covid-19 World. Very Important.
In a (Near) post Covid-19 World. Very Important. A lot of the same things that werr causing so many issues with covid in Canada and thigns that people were so loud about were the very things that could have stopped it sooner. A lot of those same things were present in some form during covid-19 such as people pushing back against the establishment. But in this case the establishment was attempting to enforce measures that would legitimately stop the spread. Pilgrimages were common during the Black Death and despite it being a bad idea and the very thing that likely spread it so much further people still continued to do it.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Zach
- 2023-01-09
awesome performance
if you've ever been in a university history lecture you can only hope it's as entertaining as I found this one
there are no voices or characters to capture, but what a story teller
I truly enjoyed listening AND learning
thank you
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 2021-11-27
Informative.
First, the narrator's voice is excellent, and her delivery and clarity, is about the best I've heard so far. Next, for a modern academic, I found her attention to the facts, almost completely, unbiased by the social constructs that plague, (no pun intended), modern literature. Definitely worth the listen.
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- Nick Overduin
- 2021-12-25
One of the best of the "Great Courses"
The presenter, Dorsey Armstrong, has a wonderful and relatable voice. That certainly helps. She is animated and caring and very knowledgeable about her subject. In short, the whole course, all 24 lectures, was just so extremely well done. I learned so much, about so many aspects. The most disturbing part of the history of the Black Death, for me, was certainly the anti-Semitism that emerged. Horrific materials! I listened to this book prior to the Covid pandemic, but listened to it again during the 3rd and 4th waves of the Covid pandemic. The relevance of the book cannot be overstated, obviously, when we are experiencing a modern scourge. But it is staggering to think about the impact of this historical plague on the later development of society and the world.
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