plague: a very short introduction

The link between climate change and disease spread was one of the stronger and more compelling arguments here; the focus on European superiority was perhaps the weakest, with outbreaks of the plague in China, India, and other countries mentioned but not given full weight, especially in analysis of cultural and ideological changes that occurred. Very short but interesting and well written book about the 3 major outbreaks of plague - Justinian's Plague, the Black Death and the Plague in China. This Very Short Introduction explores the historical impact of plague over the centuries, the ways in which it has been interpreted, and the powerful images it has left behind in art and literature. Xenopsylla cheopis was the most effective flea species for transmittal. In this Very Short Introduction, Paul Slack explores the historical impact of plague over the centuries. This Very Short Introduction explores the historical impact of plague over the centuries, the ways in which it has been interpreted, and the powerful images it has left behind in art and literature. Examining what plague meant for those who suffered from it, and how governments began to fight against it, he demonstrates the impact plague has had on modern notions of public health and how it has shaped our history. It was useful as a slogan summarising all these goals, and since it had no equivalent in other languages, it gave the English a distinctive culture of improvement that they took with them to Ireland and Scotland, and to their possessions overseas. Save Citation » Export Citation » Impressive feat of concision. Improvement was a new concept in seventeenth-century England; only then did it become usual for people to think that the most effective way to change things for the better was not a revolution or a return to the past, but the persistent application of human ingenuity to the challenge of increasing the country's wealth and general wellbeing. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Looking at the ways in which it has been interpreted, and the powerful images it has left behind in art and literature, he considers how it was fought and controlled, and … One of the better VSIs coming out of Oxford. The Invention of Improvement explains how this culture of improvement came about. We’d love your help. 17 reviews. Paul Slack assesses its causes, which have often been disputed and are now being illuminated by microbiologists and … That's part of the nature of these little books, which are my first call when reading up on a new topic, but a few extra sentences would have helped - I kept expecting a little more on quarantine histories and procedures, as the first chapter seemed to be suggesting they would be a later focus, but this never quite happened. Having read several books on the topic, I didn't think I'd get anything new out of it, but I was wrong. A pretty decent overview of the Plague and its different historical instances in ancient Rome, medieval Europe (known to us now as the Black Death) to epidemics in the 19th century in India and China. This is mostly a social/historical account of the plague, with almost no scientific information. Escape from Rome: The Failure of Empire and the Road to Prosperity, the absolutist response of the French state to quarantine the city of Marseilles in 1720, the sanitary cordon in Austria-Hungary between the Europeans and Ottoman lands, Power, Sister! There was a new appreciation of material progress as a process that could be measured, and its impact was publicised by the circulation of information about it. Corpus ID: 127249686. A good starting point for understanding the plague across history. There are presently over 500 small books covering a very wide range of subjects. This collection of essays in English urban history covers a period which has been called 'the Dark Ages in English Economic History', on which it directs a revealing light. Bubonic plague is an infection of the lymphatic system, usually resulting from the bite of an infected flea, Xenopsylla cheopis (the Oriental rat flea). It was responsible for the 'Plague of Justinian' in 542, the Black Death of 1348, and the Great Plague of London in 1665, as well as for devastating epidemics in China and India between the 1890s and 1920s. Although short, the Introductions are substantial in content. It made them different from everyone else. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Lee "Plague: A Very Short Introduction" por Paul Slack disponible en Rakuten Kobo. In this Very Short Introduction, Paul Slack explores the historical impact of plague over the centuries, looking at the ways in which it has been interpreted, and the powerful images it has left behind in art and literature. To see what your friends thought of this book. Several flea species carried the bubonic plague, such as Pulex irritans (the human flea), Xenopsylla cheopis, and Ceratophyllus fasciatus. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Very Short Introductions Ser. Paul Slack explores the political and economic circumstances which allowed notions of improvement to take root, and the changes in habits of mind which improvement accelerated. by Oxford University Press, USA. Plague: A Very Short Introduction. In this Very Short Introduction, Paul Slack explores the historical impact of plague over the centuries, looking at the ways in which it has been interpreted, and the powerful images it has left behind in art and literature. Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring Throughout history plague has been the cause of many major catastrophes. Admirably balanced concerning various controversies in plague historiography. Classification. That's part of the nature of these little books, which are my first call when reading up on a new topic, but a few extra sentences would have helped - I kept expecting a little more on quarantine histories and procedures, as the first chapter seemed to be suggesting. It had made the country richer and many of its citizens more prosperous, if not always happier. He means that studying the three main plague outbreaks in recorded history cannot offer us a definitive prescription for avoiding or dealing with future pandemics, whether or not of plague. Welcome back. This Very Short Introduction explores the historical impact of plague over the centuries, the ways in which it has been interpreted, and the powerful images it has left behind in art and literature. Today, it has become a metaphor for other epidemic disasters which appear to threaten us, but plague itself has never been eradicated.In this Very Short Introduction, Paul Slack explores the historical impact of plague over the centuries, looking at the ways in which it has been interpreted, and the powerful images it has left behind in art and literature. Plague: A Very Short Introduction. To read on e-ink devices like the Sony eReader or Barnes & Noble Nook, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. When I first saw the book "Plague: A Very Short Introduction" by Paul Slack, I was dismayed by its slimness and could only think "They really weren't kidding about the title!" It was responsible for the Black Death of 1348 and the Great Plague of London in 1665, and for devastating epidemics much earlier and much later, in the Mediterranean in the sixth century, and in China and India between the 1890s and 1920s. It encouraged innovation, industriousness, and the acquisition of consumer goods which delivered comfort and pleasure. : Plague by Paul Slack (2012, Trade Paperback) at the best online prices at … … 20 New Books on Women’s History. The Plague reached southern England in the late summer of 1348 and swept northward through the following year. It was responsible for the 'Plague of Justinian' in 542, the Black Death of 1348, and the Great Plague of London in 1665, as well as for devastating epidemics in China and India between the 1890s and 1920s. Throughout history plague has been the cause of many major catastrophes. Improvements in agriculture and industry, commerce and social welfare, would bring infinite prosperity and happiness. Over the period of more than a millennium, plague outbreaks have decimated many parts of the world, but perhaps nowhere more so than in Europe. Paul Slack assesses its causes, which have often been disputed and are now being illuminated by microbiologists and archaeologists, and he looks at possible reasons for its periodic disappearance from whole … I loved loved loved the one on Music, and of the ones they had this one seemed the most interesting, so I picked it up (fully prepared for some variability, given the difference in topics and authors). ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. The word improvement was itself a recent coinage. Throughout history plague has been the cause of many major catastrophes. Paul Slack assesses its causes, which have often been disputed and are now being illuminated by microbiologists and archaeologists, and he looks at possible reasons for its per. Plague is the prototypical deadly and devastating infectious disease. Manages to discuss, however briefly, all major aspects of plague history across all three pandemics. The essays range from a discussion of the role of ceremony in the civic life of Coventry at teh end of the Middle Ages to the influence of war on London Merchant class at the end of the seventeenth century. Over the period of more than a millennium, plague outbreaks have decimated many parts of the world, but perhaps nowhere more so than in Europe. Everyone would benefit from reading these books to broaden their knowledge and understanding in diverse areas of life. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable. Loved the pocket-able size, made for a great subway read. Well, I am less scared of getting the plague in the immediate future but now I'm more angry about climate change so that's fun. A vivid account of the literary culture of the Spanish-speaking Americas from the time of Columbus to Latin American Independence, this Very Short Introduction explores the origins of Latin American literature in Spanish and tells the story of how Spanish literary language developed and flourished in the New World. Start by marking “Plague: A Very Short Introduction” as Want to Read: Error rating book. It is hard to understate the impact that the plague has had on the course of European history, but also culture and arts. A good introduction to the history of the plague, exactly what you'd expect. His focus throughout the book is on how people coped with death and disease in epidemic crises. Drawing on a rich variety of contemporary literature, The Invention of Improvement situates improvement at the centre of momentous changes in how people thought and behaved, how they conceived of their environment and their collective prospects, and how they cooperated in order to change them. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published He shows what plague meant for those who suffered from it, and how governments began to fight against it and in doing so invented modern notions of public health. A good introduction to the history of the plague, exactly what you'd expect. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. He is a Fellow of the British Academy and was Principal of Linacre College, Oxford, until his retirement in 2010. Although the character of the disease has stirred much controversy and continues to be the subject of scientific and historical investigations, the consequences of the Black Death and plagues—demographic, economic, social, and cultural—have embroiled historians in debate for … Written by experts for the newcomer, they demonstrate the finest contemporary thinking about the central problems and issues in hundreds of key topics, from philosophy to Freud, quantum theory to Islam. Would've liked more science, very history focused. This Very Short Introduction describes history's major pandemics - plague, tuberculosis, malaria, smallpox, cholera, influenza, and HIV/AIDS - highlighting how each disease's biological characteristics affected its pandemic development. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies. Looking at the ways in which it has been interpreted, and the powerful images it has left behind in art and literature, he considers how it was fought and controlled, and the impact it had on our modern notions of public health. A bubo (Greek βουβών, boubṓn, 'groin') is adenitis or inflammation of the lymph nodes and is an example of reactive lymphadenopathy.. 3.5 stars. Almost all of the European medieval life has been lived in the shadow of the possible plague outbreaks, but the majority of the main outbreaks have taken place between the fourteenth and the seventeenth centuries. Posed several mostly unanswerable questions - food for thought. Buboes are a symptom of bubonic plague, and occur as painful swellings in the thighs, neck, groin or armpits. In this Very Short Introduction, Paul Slack explores the historical impact of plague over the centuries, looking at the ways in which it has been interpreted, and the … In this Very Short Introduction, Paul Slack explores the historical impact of plague over the centuries, looking at the ways in which it has been interpreted, and the … This was definitely an impulse grab at the library; I was picking up some other stuff, and noticed in the relatively small nonfiction section at our branch (not proportionally; the whole branch is pretty small) that they seemed to have a number of these Very Short Introduction books scattered about. New York: Oxford University Press, 2012. The Very Short Introductions are a major educational resource. March 24th 2012 Before 2019, if you asked people about pandemic diseases the two most likely to be mentioned were plague … It is hard to understate the impact that the plague has had on the cours. 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