“Black Death” explores the devastating bubonic plague pandemic in 14th-century Europe, a pivotal event where nearly a third of the population perished. Beyond the staggering mortality, the book examines the profound social, economic, and cultural shifts triggered by the disease. It highlights how the plague, while a medical crisis, catalyzed radical societal restructuring and reshaped medieval European society far beyond just immediate death tolls.
The book argues that the Black Death accelerated existing trends, such as the breakdown of traditional feudal structures, and fostered new opportunities due to the labor shortage. For example, surviving workers saw increased wages, reshaping the labor market. This analysis is supported by primary source accounts and archaeological findings, offering a rich, multi-faceted view.
The book progresses by first establishing the pre-plague European context, then details the plague's arrival and spread, moving into the immediate impacts, and concluding with an analysis of the long-term consequences of the infectious disease pandemic. The book uniquely draws interdisciplinary connections between history, epidemiology, sociology, and economics. It avoids technical jargon to present a comprehensive and accessible account suitable for various readers. By addressing debates surrounding the plague's impact, the book offers a balanced view of this significant event in World History.
