History's Great Plagues: How Germs Shaped Civilization

Plague has terrified and fascinated humanity for all of recorded history. Now, in the current moment of COVID-19, people around the globe are again struggling to learn how to navigate life during a pandemic. As in times of uncertainty throughout history, we seek the insights of the great minds who have lived through and reflected on similar historical moments.

Your guide for this fascinating 12-lecture audio course is medieval literature expert Chris Fee, a presenter beloved for his evocative delivery by Learn25 listeners and his own students at Gettysburg College.

You’ll begin by examining literary attempts to understand and to interpret pestilence and plagues, starting with the Bible and Ancient poets, playwrights, and historians. You’ll then move on to some of the greatest works of the Middle Ages and Renaissance that were inspired by or reflect aspects of the infamous Black Death.

Entering the Modern Age, you’ll explore works by authors that employ plague as a metaphor. Along the way, you will also delve into popular books and movies, such as 12 Monkeys, that take plague as their subject or subtext. You’ll conclude by discovering that the literature of plague has much to teach us, not just about the current moment, but about the very nature of being human.

This course is part of the Learn25 collection.