The Great Pestilence (A.D. 1348-9), Now Commonly Known as the Black Death

"The Great Pestilence (A.D. 1348-9), Now Commonly Known as the Black Death" by Francis Aidan Gasquet is a historical account written in the late 19th century. This work delves into the devastating impacts of the Black Death, examining its origins, spread, and consequences across Europe. The narrative explores the epidemic's historical significance, framing it as a pivotal turning point that reshaped social, religious, and economic landscapes. The opening of the book sets the stage for this exploration by detailing how the epidemic began, specifically its transmission from the East to Europe via trade routes. Initially, it describes reports from the East about a mysterious and deadly illness decimating large populations, particularly among the Tartars during a siege in Caffa. From there, the narrative moves to the arrival of infected ships in European ports like Genoa and Venice, where the contagion rapidly spread, revealing the terrifying symptoms and sheer mortality that followed. Gasquet emphasizes the chaotic living conditions, public despair, and the moral decline that ensued as communities struggled to cope with the overwhelming death toll, crafted through contemporary accounts and personal testimonies that paint a vivid and harrowing picture of the era. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

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About this eBook

Author Gasquet, Francis Aidan, 1846-1929
Title The Great Pestilence (A.D. 1348-9), Now Commonly Known as the Black Death
Credits Produced by Clarity, RichardW, and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net
Reading Level Reading ease score: 66.0 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
Language English
LoC Class RC: Medicine: Internal medicine
Subject Black Death
Subject Medicine, Medieval
Subject Diseases and history
Category Text
eBook-No. 45815
Release Date
Last Update Oct 24, 2024
Copyright Public domain in the USA.
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