Epidemics Of the Middle Ages

First published in the mid-19th century, Epidemics of the Middle Ages by Dr. J. F. C. Hecker remains one of the most authoritative and compelling studies of the great plagues that shaped European history. Drawing upon chronicles, medical writings, and ecclesiastical records, Hecker reconstructs the devastating outbreaks of the Black Death, the Dancing Mania, the English Sweat, and other mysterious medieval scourges that transformed societies and belief systems alike.

With the precision of a physician and the narrative skill of a historian, Hecker explores how disease, fear, and faith intertwined during centuries of crisis—revealing the psychological, cultural, and spiritual dimensions of epidemic catastrophe. His work transcends mere pathology, uncovering how pestilence reshaped religion, morality, and collective consciousness throughout the medieval world.

A landmark in the history of medicine and cultural epidemiology, Epidemics of the Middle Ages stands as both a scientific inquiry and a haunting chronicle of human endurance in the face of unimaginable suffering.

Complete edition of Dr. J. F. C. Hecker’s classic medical and historical study

Examines the Black Death, plague, and epidemic phenomena in medieval Europe

A foundational text in medical history, pathology, and cultural anthropology

Essential for readers of history of medicine, medieval studies, and epidemiology