Encyclopedia of the Black Death

Joseph P. Byrne is a historian and professor of honors humanities at Belmont University, Nashville, TN, USA.

• List of Entries by Broad TopicIntroductionTimelineAbandonmentAIDS and Plagueal-Asqalani, Ibn Hajar (1372–1449)AlchemyAllahAlmanacsal-Manbiji, Muhammad (d. 1383)al-Maqrizi, Muhammad (al-Makrizi; 1363/4–1442)Amulets, Talismans, and MagicAnatomy and DissectionAnimalsAnticlericalismAnti–Semitism and Anti–Jewish Violence before the Black DeathApocalypse and ApocalypticismApothecariesArabic-Persian Medicine and PractitionersArmenian BoleArmiesArrowsArs moriendi (The Art of Dying)Art, Effects of Plague onArticellaAstrologyAthens, Plague ofAvicenna (Abu Ali al-Husayn ibn Abd Allah ibn Sina; 980–1037)Barcelona, SpainBellsBertrand, Jean-Baptiste (1670–1752)Bezoar StonesBibleBiblical PlaguesBills of HealthBills of MortalityBimaristans (also Maristans)Bishops and PopesBlack Death (1347–1352)Black Death: Debate over the Medical Nature ofBlack Death: Origins and Early SpreadBlack Death, Plague, and Pestilence(Terms)Bleeding/PhlebotomyBoccaccio, Giovanni (1313–1375)Books of HoursBorromeo, Federigo (1564–1631)Borromeo, St. Charles (SanCarlo; 1538–1484)Boyle, Robert (1627–1691)Broadsheets, Broadsides, and PamphletsBubonic PlagueBubonic Plague in North AmericaBullein, William (d. 1576)Caffa (Kaffa, Feodosiya), UkraineCairo, EgyptCanutus (Kanutus) Plague TractCauses of Plague: Historical TheoriesCellites and AlexiansCharlatans and QuacksChaucer, Geoffrey (c. 1340/43–1400)Chauliac, Guy de (Guido de Cauliaco; c. 1300–1367)ChildrenChinaChinese Traditional MedicineChristChronicles and AnnalsChurches, PlagueCiompi RevoltClement VI, Pope (1291/92–1352; r. 1342–1352)ClothingCompendium of ParisConfraternitiesConsilia and Plague TractsConstantinople/IstanbulContagion TheoryCordons SanitairesCorpse CarriersCorpsesCouvin, Simon de (Symon de Covino; c. 1320–1367)Crime and PunishmentDancing ManiaDanse MacabreDeath, Depictions ofDefoe, Daniel (1660–1731)Dekker, Thomas (1570?–1632)De Mertens, Charles (1737–1788)Demographic and Economic Effects of Plague: The Islamic WorldDemographic Effects of Plague: Europe 1347–1400Demographic Effects of Plague: Europe 1400–1500Demographic Effects of Plague: Europe 1500–1722DemographyDemons, Satan, and the DevilDiagnosing PlagueDietary RegimensDiseases, Opportunistic and SubsidiaryDisinfection and FumigationDNA and the Second Plague PandemicDonne, John (1572–1631)DoorsDublin, IrelandEarthquakesEconomic Effects of Plague in EuropeEmpiricsEnd of Second Plague Pandemic: TheoriesEpidemic and PandemicEx votoExpulsion of VictimsEyam, England (1666)FamineFernel, Jean (c. 1497–1558)Feudalism and ManorialismFicino, Marsiglio (1433–1499)FlagellantsFleasFlightFlorence, ItalyFracastoro, Girolamo (1478–1553)Friars (Mendicants)Funerals, CatholicFunerals, MuslimFunerals, ProtestantGalen and Galenism (129CE–c.216)Gentile da Foligno (c. 1275–1348)Germ TheoryGod the FatherGoldGovernments, CivilGraunt, John (1620–1674)GravediggersGregory the Great, Pope (r.590–604)Grindal, Edmund (1519–1583)GuildsHealth Boards, Magistracies, and CommissionsHeaven and HellHenry VIII, King of England (1491–1547; r. 1509–1547)Hippocrates (c. 460–c. 360 bce) and the Hippocratic CorpusHodges, Nathaniel (1629–1688)HospitalsHumoral TheoryHundred Years War (1337–1453)I promessi sposi (1827)Ibn al-Khatib, Lisad-ad Din (1313–1374)Ibn Battuta, Abu Abdullah (1304–1368)Ibn Khatimah, Abu Jafar Ahmed (1323?–1369)Individualism and Individual LibertiesIngrassia, Giovanni Filippo (Gianfilippo; 1510–1580)Islam and MedicineIslamic Civil ResponsesIslamic Religious ResponsesIslip, Simon (d. 1366)Issyk Kul, KyrgystanJacquerieJames I and VI Stuart, King (1566–1625)Jewish Treasure HoardsJewsJinnJobJohn of Burgundy (c. 1338–1390; also Johannes de Burgundia, Burdeus, La Barba, Burgoyne)Jonson, Ben (1572–1637)Justinian, Plague of (First PlaguePandemic)Kircher, Athanasius (1602–1680)Kitasato, Shibasaburo (1852–1931)Koch, Robert (1843–1910)Labourers, Ordinance and Statute ofLangland, William (c.1325–after 1388)Languages: Vernacular and LatinLazarettos and Pest HousesLazarusLeechbooksLeprosy (Hansen's Disease) and LeprosariumLi Muisis, Gilles (Le Muisit; 1271/72–1353)Little Ice AgeLollardsLondon, EnglandLondon, Great Plague of (1665–1666)London's East Smithfield Plague CemeteryLuther, Martin (1483–1546)Lydgate, John (c. 1370–1450)MalthusianismMarseille, FranceMass Graves and Plague CemeteriesMead, Richard (1673–1754)MeccaMedical Education (1300–1500, Medieval Europe)Medical Education (1500–1700, Early Modern Europe)Medical HumanismMerchantsMercuriale, Girolamo (1530–1606)Metaphors for PlagueMiasma TheoryMilan, ItalyMongolsMonks, Nuns, and MonasteriesMoral LegislationMorality Literature, ChristianMorbidity, Mortality, and VirulenceMoscow, RussiaMuhammad the Prophet (570–632)Naples, ItalyNarwhal/Unicorn Horn PowderNashe, Thomas (1567–1601)NobilityNotariesNursesParacelsus (1493–1541) and ParacelsianismParets, Miquel (1610–1661)Paris, FranceParishPasteur, Louis (1822–1895)Pastors, Preachers, and MinistersPeasantsPeasants' Revolt, EnglishPepys, Samuel (1633–1703)Petrarch, Francesco (1304–1374)PhysiciansPhysicians, CourtPhysicians, TownPilgrims and PilgrimagePlague in Europe, 1360–1500Plague in Europe, 1500–1725Plague MemorialsPlague Orders and National AuthoritiesPlague SaintsPlague Stone"Plagues" in the West, 900–1345Pneumonic PlaguePoetry, EuropeanPoetry, IslamicPoisoning and Plague SpreadingPoverty and PlaguePrayer and FastingPriestsPrintingPrisonersProcessionsProphylaxesProstitutesPublic HealthPublic SanitationPurgativesPurgatoryQuarantineRats and Other Plague CarriersReformation and ProtestantismRemedies, ExternalRemedies, InternalRepopulationRome, ItalySt. Januarius (San Gennaro; d.c.305)St. Michael the ArchangelSt. Nicholas of Tolentino (1245–1305)St. RocheSt. RosaliaSt. SebastianScientific RevolutionSearchersSecond Plague Pandemic (1340s–1840s)Septicemic PlagueServants, HouseholdShakespeare, William (1564–1616)Shutting InSigns of PlagueSimond, Paul-Louis (1858–1947)SinSocial Construction of DiseaseSumptuary LawsSurgeons/BarbersSydenham, Thomas (1625–1689)Syrups and ElectuariesTa'unTaxes and Public FinanceTears against the PlagueTheriac and MithridatumThird Plague PandemicThirty Years' War (1618–1648)"Three Living Meet Three Dead"ToadsTobaccoTransi TombsTriumph of DeathTumbrelsUrine and UroscopyValesco de Tarenta (d.after1426)Van Diemerbroeck, Isbrand (Ysbrand, IJsbrand; 1609–1674)Van Helmont, Joan Baptista (Johannes; Jan; 1579–1644)Venice, ItalyVesalius, Andreas (1514–1564)Vienna, AustriaVinario, Raimondo Chalmel de (Magister Raimundus; Chalmelli; Chalin; d. after 1382)Virgin MaryVirgin Soil DiseaseWandsWills and TestamentsWitches and WitchcraftWither, George (1588–1667)Women Medical PractitionersYeoman Farmers and GentryYersin, Alexandre (1863–1943)Yersinia pestisZodiac ManGlossaryBibliographyIndex

Joseph Byrne, a medievalist well versed in myriad aspects of the period, displays his command of the era by examining aspects of bubonic plague. His skill at humanistic analysis reaches a height in such topics as virgin soil disease, medical education, remedies, and repopulation. . . . Overall, the comprehensive A to Z entries, timeline, maps and illustrations, bibliography, glossary, and detailed index provide high school, public, and college and university libraries with a valuable tool for understanding one of Earth's most terrifying catastrophes.