Fall 2007

The Black Death mystery

Scientists who have been “absolutely certain” for 100 years that the Black Death was the bubonic plague, originating in rats and transmitted by fleas, no longer agree about the cause of the disease, said Madonna Hettinger, professor of history. “Debate is very hot right now. Scientific and historical evidence is challenging past wisdom. One of the new suspects is anthrax. Today, teaching about this disease puts me in a position similar to that of the medieval people, who, not having a clue about what the illness was, believed that the wrath of God had descended on them. “An awareness of our

An awareness of our own vulnerability to the world’s next epidemic makes studying the Black Death a humbling experience. But at the same time, it is a topic that inspires, as we see physical evidence of humans’ resilience.”