The Black Death (Pivotal Moments in History) [Hardcover]

Diane Zahler (Author)

Book Description

Series: Pivotal Moments in History | Publication Date: March 2009

Could a few fleas really change the world? In the early 1300s, the world was on the brink of change. New trade routes in Europe and Asia brought people in contact with different cultures and ideas, while war and rebellions threatened to disrupt the lives of millions. Most people lived in crowded cities or as serfs tied to the lands of their overlords. Conditions were filthy, as most people drank water from the same sources they used for washing and for human waste. In the cramped and rat-infested streets of medieval cities and villages, all it took were the bites of a few plague-infected fleas to start a pandemic that killed roughly half the population of Europe and Asia. The bubonic plague wiped out families, villages, even entire regions. Once the swollen, black buboes appeared on victims' bodies, there was no way to save them. People died within days. In the wake of such devastation, survivors had to reevaluate their social, scientific, and religious beliefs, laying the groundwork for our modern world. The Black Death outbreak is one of world history's pivotal moments.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up—The lurid appeal of the topic is effectively captured on the cover of this solid history of the 14th-century plague. Zahler connects the seemingly unstoppable march of death to the inception of new ideas about the Church, the value of labor, and the preciousness of human life that contributed to the Reformation and the Renaissance. The emphasis on primary-source research brings vitality to the text, although in at least one case historians have cast doubt on first-person accounts that Zahler presents as fact, i.e., the siege of Italian traders by Mongols who flung diseased bodies at them by catapault. Overall, this is a well-written and well-researched volume. Full-color illustrations, a note explaining the value of primary sources, a who's who, and careful source notes make this book a valuable addition to history collections.—Rebecca Donnelly, Loma Colorado Public Library, Rio Rancho, NM
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About the Author

Diane Zahler studied medieval history in college. She has written textbooks (K-12) in history, language arts, and literature. She is the co-author of Test Your Cultural Literary and the author of The Twenty-First Century Guide to Improving Your Writing. Ms. Zahler is also the author of The Black Death, a Spring 09 Pivotal Moments title.

Diane Zahler studied medieval history in college. She has written textbooks (K-12) in history, language arts, and literature. She is the co-author of Test Your Cultural Literary and the author of The Twenty-First Century Guide to Improving Your Writing. Ms. Zahler is also the author of The Black Death, a Spring 09 Pivotal Moments title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Twentyfirst Century Books (March 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 082259076X
• ISBN-13: 978-0822590767
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,323,170 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I grew up reading children's books and never wanted to do anything but write them. Then HarperCollins Children's Books offered to publish THE THIRTEENTH PRINCESS and A TRUE PRINCESS, and then PRINCESS OF THE WILD SWANS and another (yet unnamed) fairy-tale retelling. Magic does happen! I live in the country with my husband in what is aptly nicknamed the Bug House. Visit my website at www.dianezahler.com.