Black Death: Inside Medieval Lockdown

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal

History Hit

Myths, Folklore, Mystery, History, Ghosts, Society & Culture, Murder, Ufos, True Crime, Paranormal, Supernatural, Serial Killers

4.6 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 17 March 2025

⏱️ 49 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Around 50% of everyone in Europe died during the Black Death. It's very hard to make sense of that. What did it look and feel like to live through this calamity?

Today Maddy Pelling and Anthony Delaney are joined by historian Helen Carr whose new book Sceptred Isle: A New History of the Fourteenth Century is out in May.

Produced by Freddy Chick. Edited by Tomos Delargy. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long.

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All music from Epidemic Sounds.

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal is a History Hit podcast.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, we're your host's Anthony Delaney and Maddie Pelling.
0:03.7	And if you would like After Dark myths, misdeeds and the paranormal, ad free and get early access, sign up to History Hit.
0:11.1	With a History Hit subscription, you can also watch hundreds of hours of original documentaries with top history presenters and enjoy a new release every week.
0:20.7	Sign up now by visiting historyhit.com forward slash subscribe. top history presenters and enjoy a new release every week.
0:24.8	Sign up now by visiting historyhit.com forward slash subscribe.
0:32.8	Hi, I'm Jeff Wayne and my musical version of The War of the Worlds is returning to arenas this March in April with the Spirit of Man Tour. For me, standing on stage, conducting world-class artists and musicians,
0:41.3	surrounded by breathtaking technology, is nothing short of magical.
0:46.2	It's more than a show.
0:47.6	It's a battle against the Martians, and I'd love you to be part of the adventure.
0:52.1	See you there.
1:01.1	Music love you to be part of the adventure. See you there. The future is unpredictable at times,
1:07.2	that the Open University are the experts in distance learning, allowing you to fit study around your life. What's more, you'll have support from dedicated tutors every step of the way.
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1:17.5	Registered by the 9th of January to get started.
1:22.4	The Open University, the future is open.
1:51.2	1348, Florence. Your footsteps echo down paved streets across broad squares, tall buildings tower over you, grand columns and vaulted arches, turrets and coats of arms.
1:59.2	This is one of the largest and most powerful cities in Europe, a place usually buzzing with endless commerce.
2:08.3	But this is 1348, the year of the Black Death in Florence, and the air is filled with the stench of death. Ahead of you, you see two men dragging a corpse behind them, trying to keep up with a priest.
2:13.8	A dead body is given the same respect given to an animal carcass these days.
2:18.8	You catch the eyes of people as they pass.
2:21.6	Some are full of fear, but most are like yours.
2:25.1	Exhausted beyond belief.
	...

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