Der Schwarze Tod

"The Black Death" by Klaus Bergdolt offers an in-depth analysis of the devastating plague epidemic that claimed the lives of about one third of the European population between 1346 and 1350. The author highlights the spread of the disease from Crimea to the west and compares its effects to later disasters of the 20th century. By reflecting on earlier epidemics and introducing the medical challenges of the time, the reader is drawn into the subject matter. Bergdolt uses contemporary chroniclers to depict daily life during the plague and analyzes accompanying phenomena such as flagellant processions and pogroms against Jews. Additionally, the influence of the Black Death on art and literature of the late Middle Ages is discussed, making the book a comprehensive resource for those interested in history and archaeology.