Pandemics in History

How Plagues Shaped Civilization

By: Chris Fee

Narrated by: Chris Fee

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.

©2020 Now You Know Media, Inc. (P)2020 Now You Know Media, Inc.

Learning is infectious

While sitting at home during the Covid-19 lockdown, what better way to pass some time than learn about several previous worldwide plagues?

Chris Fee provides an intriguing look back at the historical contexts of past plagues and how they were handled back then. This book is incredibly interesting and unfortunately timely. It's fascinating to see how humanity has moved forward in some aspects while remaining incredibly unchanged in others.

A most timely history course

Chris Fee has a real knack for making history relevant. I've enjoyed several of his Learn25 courses; this may be his best. Highly recommended for anyone who seeks historic context for understanding our current pandemic.

Timely exploration, exceptional presenter

At a time when most of us are living through a pandemic for the first time, it's fascinating to hear historical and fictional accounts of plagues past. Spanning biblical accounts, dramatic responses by Sophocles and Thucydides, and modern works by the likes of Jack London and Albert Camus, these lectures helped me understand the commonality of pandemic experiences as well is the ways in which they significantly differ due to the nature of the disease and the historical period. Ultimately, terrific presenter Fee ends on a hopeful note, buoyed by an uncharacteristically optimistic Camus. I highly recommend this course.

should be renames pandemics in movies and TV

was not about Pandemics at all. it's was a history about Pandemics in film . very little about Pandemics in themselves . but Bible sections and movie references abound. did help me fall a sleep though.