Interview: Professor Thomas Asbridge on the Black Death
Summary
Host Patrick Wyman interviews historian Dr. Thomas Asperger about his book, *The Black Death: A Global History*. They discuss the pandemic’s spread via medieval trade networks and its varying impacts across Christian and Muslim societies. Asperger emphasizes recovering individual human experiences through personal accounts and wills, highlighting both the horror of mass death and the resilience of communities. The conversation also touches on the theological differences in plague responses and the enduring relevance of pandemics in human history.
Topics discussed
Intro and Progressive Insurance Ad
Introduction to Dr. Thomas Asperger and his work
Asperger's background in medieval history and Crusades
The interconnected medieval world and plague spread
How connectivity determined plague arrival and impact
Motivation for writing a global history of the Black Death
Focusing on human experience over statistics and DNA
Resilience and the persistence of daily life during plague
Universal emotions and trauma in medieval responses
Variations in historical records and regional impacts
Comparing Christian and Muslim theological responses
Flight bans and higher mortality in Muslim cities
Societal collapse vs. resilience and scapegoating
Last wills as evidence of community and hope
Lessons for modern pandemics and outro
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