La moria grandissima began its terrible journey across the European and Asian continents in 1347, leaving unimaginable devastation in its wake. Five years later, twenty-five million people were dead, felled by the scourge that would come to be called the Black Death. The Great Mortality is the extraordinary epic account of the worst natural disaster in European history -- a drama of courage, cowardice, misery, madness, and sacrifice that brilliantly illuminates humankind's darkest days when an old world ended and a new world was born.

A fascinating account of the phenomenon known as the Black Death, this volume offers a wealth of documentary material focused on the initial outbreak of the plague that ravaged the world in the 14th century. A comprehensive introduction that provides important background on the origins and spread of the plague is followed by nearly 50 documents organized into topical sections that focus on the origin and spread of the illness; the responses of medical practitioners; the societal and economic impact; religious responses; the flagellant movement and attacks on Jews provoked by the plague; and the artistic response. Each chapter has an introduction that summarizes the issues explored in the documents; headnotes to the documents provide additional background material. The book contains documents from many countries - including Muslim and Byzantine sources - to give students a variety of perspectives on this devastating illness and its consequences. The volume also includes illustrations, a chronology of the Black Death, and questions to consider.

La moria grandissima began its terrible journey across the European and Asian continents in 1347, leaving unimaginable devastation in its wake. Five years later, twenty-five million people were dead, felled by the scourge that would come to be called the Black Death. The Great Mortality is the extraordinary epic account of the worst natural disaster in European history -- a drama of courage, cowardice, misery, madness, and sacrifice that brilliantly illuminates humankind's darkest days when an old world ended and a new world was born.

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Book Preview: #1 Feodosiya, a city on the eastern coast of the Crimea, was a Genoese port that was one of the fastestgrowing in the medieval world. The city was built as a monument to the Italian citystate’s wealth, virtue, piety, and imperial glory. #2 Between 1250 and 1350, the medieval world experienced an early burst of globalization, and Caffa was perfectly situated to take advantage of it. The port city doubled, tripled, and quadrupled in size between 1250 and 1340, and its population quadrupled a second, third, and fourth time. #3 The Genoese, who were much closer to Asia than de’ Mussis and Heyligen, probably heard rumors about the disasters, but they faced so many immediate dangers in Caffa that they could not have had much time to worry about events in faraway India or China. #4 The Black Death first spread from Asia to the Middle East and Europe, and then to China. It seems that the pestilence originated in inner Asia, and spread westward to the Middle East and Europe along the international trade routes.

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 Feodosiya, a city on the eastern coast of the Crimea, was a Genoese port that was one of the fastest-growing in the medieval world. The city was built as a monument to the Italian city-state’s wealth, virtue, piety, and imperial glory. #2 Between 1250 and 1350, the medieval world experienced an early burst of globalization, and Caffa was perfectly situated to take advantage of it. The port city doubled, tripled, and quadrupled in size between 1250 and 1340, and its population quadrupled a second, third, and fourth time. #3 The Genoese, who were much closer to Asia than de’ Mussis and Heyligen, probably heard rumors about the disasters, but they faced so many immediate dangers in Caffa that they could not have had much time to worry about events in faraway India or China. #4 The Black Death first spread from Asia to the Middle East and Europe, and then to China. It seems that the pestilence originated in inner Asia, and spread westward to the Middle East and Europe along the international trade routes.

A fascinating account of the phenomenon known as the Black Death, this volume offers a wealth of documentary material focused on the initial outbreak of the plague that ravaged the world in the 14th century. A comprehensive introduction that provides important background on the origins and spread of the plague is followed by nearly 50 documents organized into topical sections that focus on the origin and spread of the illness; the responses of medical practitioners; the societal and economic impact; religious responses; the flagellant movement and attacks on Jews provoked by the plague; and the artistic response. Each chapter has an introduction that summarizes the issues explored in the documents; headnotes to the documents provide additional background material. The book contains documents from many countries - including Muslim and Byzantine sources - to give students a variety of perspectives on this devastating illness and its consequences. The volume also includes illustrations, a chronology of the Black Death, and questions to consider.