The Black Death 1346-1353: The Complete History

by Ole J Benedictow

Overview

The best introduction to the terrible international impact of the Black Death.

Unique, sensational and shocking, this revelatory book provides the best overview of the Europe-wide history of the Black Death. The author's painstakingly comprehensive research throws fresh light on the nature of the disease, its origin, its spread, on an almost day-to-day basis, across Europe, Asia Minor, the Middle East and North Africa, its mortality rate and its impact on history. These latter two aspects are of central importance here, for it is demonstrated that the plague's death rates have consistently been under-estimated and that they were in fact much higher, making the disease's long-term effects on history even more profound. First paperback edition published 2006.

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

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781843832140
Publisher:	Boydell & Brewer, Limited
Publication date:	02/13/2006
Pages:	456
Sales rank:	1,147,704
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x (d)

About the Author

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

Editorial Reviews

[This] magisterial account mixes demographic research, meticulous reading of the chronicles and modern bacteriology.

THE GUARDIAN

The thoroughness and precision of [Benedictow's] research are admirable. [...] Opens a treasure trove of correct information. There is no doubt that [the book] should be acquired by all university libraries.

FIFTEENTH-CENTURY STUDIES

Ambitious and contentious.

ENGLISH HISTORICAL REVIEW

[This] remarkable, engrossing and controversial study is the first to assemble and synthesize historical data from every region in which the Black Death wrought havoc. [...] An immense and entirely breathtaking feat of scholarship...and a moving quest to account for a cruel phenomenon.

TLS

A book which should be on every Late-Medievalist's bookshelf. It is packed with valuable and well-considered accounts. ... A wonderful compilation of data which will be widely used for many years to come.

MEDIEVAL ARCHAEOLOGY

Those looking for a vast compendium of local data will not be disappointed.

SPECULUM

The author...has achieved a Herculean task in reviewing a very large part of the literature on the pestilential disease or set of diseases that afflicted Europe from 1346 to 1353.

THE MEDIEVAL REVIEW

A valuable addition to the historiography of the Black Death. Highly recommended.

CHOICE

Every library that covers population studies, epistemology, or medieval history should have a copy of Benedictow's book.

POPULATION STUDIES & DEVELOPMENT

Benedictow's book is highly recommended. It is well written and accompanied by many helpful maps and tables of data.

STUDIES IN MEDIEVAL AND RENAISSANCE TEACHING

Benedictow's book is highly recommended. It is well written and accompanied by many helpful maps and tables of data. STUDIES IN MEDIEVAL AND RENAISSANCE TEACHING

The thoroughness and precision of [Benedictow's] research are admirable. [...] Opens a treasure trove of correct information. There is no doubt that [the book] should be acquired by all university libraries. FIFTEENTH-CENTURY STUDIES
Every library that covers population studies, epistemology, or medieval history should have a copy of Benedictow's book. POPULATION STUDIES & DEVELOPMENT
A book which should be on every Late-Medievalist's bookshelf. It is packed with valuable and well-considered accounts. ... A wonderful compilation of data which will be widely used for many years to come. MEDIEVAL ARCHAEOLOGY
[This] remarkable, engrossing and controversial study is the first to assemble and synthesize historical data from every region in which the Black Death wrought havoc. [...] An immense and entirely breathtaking feat of scholarship...and a moving quest to account for a cruel phenomenon. TLS
[This] magisterial account mixes demographic research, meticulous reading of the chronicles and modern bacteriology. THE GUARDIAN
The author...has achieved a Herculean task in reviewing a very large part of the literature on the pestilential disease or set of diseases that afflicted Europe from 1346 to 1353. THE MEDIEVAL REVIEW
A valuable addition to the historiography of the Black Death. Highly recommended. CHOICE
Ambitious and contentious. ENGLISH HISTORICAL REVIEW
Those looking for a vast compendium of local data will not be disappointed. SPECULUM

From the Publisher