Susan Scott, Christopher J. Duncan

Biology of Plagues

Evidence from Historical Populations

• Gebundenes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

The threat of unstoppable plagues, such as AIDS and Ebola, is always with us. In Europe, the most devastating plagues were those from the Black Death pandemic in the 1300s to the Great Plague of London in 1665. For the last 100 years, it has been accepted that Yersinia pestis, the infective agent of bubonic plague, was responsible for these epidemics. This book combines modern concepts of epidemiology and molecular biology with computer-modelling. Applying these to the analysis of historical epidemics, the authors show that they were not, in fact, outbreaks of bubonic plague. Biology of Plagues offers a completely new interdisciplinary interpretation of the plagues of Europe and establishes them within a geographical, historical and demographic framework. This fascinating detective work will be of interest to readers in the social and biological sciences, and lessons learnt will underline the implications of historical plagues for modern-day epidemiology.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Cambridge University Press
• Seitenzahl: 436
• Erscheinungstermin: 4. März 2004
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 235mm x 157mm x 30mm
• Gewicht: 846g
• ISBN-13: 9780521801508
• ISBN-10: 0521801508
• Artikelnr.: 10087011

Autorenporträt

Susan Scott (susanlscott.ca) is a Great Lakes writer working at the crossroads of story, spirit, self, and culture. She has midwifed dozens of books, including scholarship and memoirs, and has been editing with The New Quarterly (TNQ) literary magazine since 2009. Susan has led award-winning initiatives in the environmental humanities and in arts-and-culture work with First Nations, immigrants, and settlers. Edited collections include Body & Soul: Stories for Skeptics and Seekers; Stories in my Neighbour's Faith; and more. Reach out to Susan for news about groundbreaking work with artists, activists, and adventuresome scholars around the globe.

Inhaltsangabe

1. Introduction; 2. Epidemiological concepts; 3. The biology of bubonic plague; 4. The Great Pestilence; 5. Case study: the plague at Penrith in 1597-98; 6. Pestilence and plague in the 16th century in England; 7. Plagues in the 16th century in northern England: a metapopulation study; 8. Plagues in London in the 17th century; 9. Plagues in the provinces in the 17th century; 10. Plague at Eyam in 1665-66: a case study; 11. Continental Europe during the third age of plagues: a study of large-scale metapopulation dynamics; 12. The Plague at Marseilles, 1720-22: an outbreak of bubonic plague? 13. Conclusions; References; Index.

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1. Introduction
2. Epidemiological concepts
3. The biology of bubonic plague
4. The Great Pestilence
5. Case study: the plague at Penrith in 1597-98
6. Pestilence and plague in the 16th century in England
7. Plagues in the 16th century in northern England: a metapopulation study
8. Plagues in London in the 17th century
9. Plagues in the provinces in the 17th century
10. Plague at Eyam in 1665-66: a case study
11. Continental Europe during the third age of plagues: a study of large-scale metapopulation dynamics
12. The Plague at Marseilles, 1720-22: an outbreak of bubonic plague? 13. Conclusions
References
Index.

Rezensionen

'Biology of Plagues is a fascinating read for those interested in the history of infectious disease and it is provocative and thought provoking.' Richard W. Titball, The Lancet