A History of Bubonic Plague | The Black Death & Quarantining with The Decameron

A History of Bubonic Plague | The Black Death & Quarantining with The Decameron

Author: Lindsay Holiday September 1, 2026 Duration: 31:29
“How many valiant men, how many fair ladies, how many sprightly youths, … breakfasted in the morning with their kinsfolk, comrades and friends, and that same night supped with their ancestors in the other world.” Giovanni Boccaccio, The Decameron Between 1346 and 1353 a horrifying pestilence burned across Central Asia, North Africa and Europe. The infected, covered in bubos and burning with fever, died in agony, with no family left to care for them or priest to pray for their souls. In some areas 50% of the population was wiped out, leaving whole villages deserted with no one to bury the dead. Those who were lucky enough to be healthy, and have the means to do so, escaped disease riddled cities for the fresh, miasma-free air of the countryside. In the midst of this horror, Florentine Giovanni Boccaccio, wrote his seminal work, The Decameron, about 10 young people who flee the plague for a lavish, sexy Tuscan Villa vacation and to hopefully not die. This medieval masterpiece has recently been turned into a darkly hilarious Netflix series, which further explores the class and gender dynamics of the 14th century in a way that anyone who recently lived through a world-wide pandemic can relate to. Today lets explore the history and science behind the Black death; the plague pandemics that came before and after it, and find out if this horrendous disease is still a risk today. Plus we’ll find out what the Decameron has to say about life, love, sex, and surviving the plague in 1348 and today. Music: Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saëns, Public Domain, Performed by Kevin MacLeod Join me every Tuesday when I'm Spilling the Tea on History! Check out my Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/lindsayholiday Please consider supporting me at https://www.patreon.com/LindsayHoliday and help me make more fascinating episodes! Intro Music: Baroque Coffee House by Doug Maxwell #HistoryTeaTime #LindsayHoliday Please contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every Tuesday, Lindsay Holiday pours a fresh cup and settles in to share the fascinating, often overlooked tales from our past. History Tea Time is built on the idea that history is best served with a generous helping of personality and a focus on the compelling narratives that textbooks tend to skip. Lindsay’s approach feels like a conversation with a knowledgeable friend who has a real knack for digging up the juiciest details. While you’ll often find episodes delving into the lives of queens and royalty from across the globe, there’s a consistent spotlight on women’s history, bringing forward the stories of figures who shaped the world from behind the throne or beyond the traditional spotlight. Listening to this podcast feels like uncovering a secret side of the past, one where the human drama, ambitions, and scandals are given center stage. Each episode is a deep dive into a specific story, told with clarity and a genuine enthusiasm that makes even the most complex historical moments accessible and utterly engaging. If you’ve ever wanted the real, unvarnished, and truly interesting stories behind the names and dates, this is your weekly invitation to listen in.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

History Tea Time
Podcast Episodes
10 Historic Royal Thrones from Around the World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:25
If you want to be a monarch, you need three things: ultimate power over your domain, a brilliant gold crown to impress the peasantry, and the best seat in the palace. The idea of giving the most important person in a giv…
10 Historic Royal Crowns from Around the World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:57
The Crown. The very symbols of power, wealth, majesty and royalty. It was a shining signal to the mud-caked peasantry that here was a person who was above them and blessed from above. You can’t be the King without the Bl…
Kings & Queens of Scotland 4/5: House of Stewart (1437–1567) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:10
Join me on a historic tour of Scotland, May 15th-21st, 2024: https://trovatrip.com/trip/europe/united-kingdom/united-kingdom-with-lindsay-holiday-may-2024 You can see the whole series now at: https://www.patreon.com/Lind…
Kings & Queens of Scotland 3/5: Wars of Independence (1286-1437) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:44
In this episode we’ll see Scotland go through it’s most tumultuous century, beginning with it’s first, tragic Queen Regnant; though the Wars of independence, where we’ll learn what Braveheart and Outlaw King got right an…
Kings & Queens of Scotland 2/5: House of Dunkeld (1034–1286) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:35
In this episode we’ll continue the bitter rivalry between branches of the royal family, learn how the Scots took advantage of the Norman invasion of 1066, meet the nation’s most famous Saint-Queen and find out what reall…
Kings & Queens of Scotland 1/5: The House of Alpin (848–1034) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:02
You can see the whole series now at: https://www.patreon.com/LindsayHoliday Magnificent and roughed, Scotland has long been a country of fierce independence and brutal power struggles. From ancient warrior kings who foug…
Asexual Royals from History [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:45
Throughout history, across cultures and in every walk of life, there have always been people with varied sexual attractions, or lack there of. Asexuality, in particular, has only been identified and studied since the ear…
Commoner Queens of England [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:19
The United Kingdom has a new Queen Consort, Camilla. She is the first Queen of England to have been born a commoner since Catherine Parr (1547). Since the Norman conquest in 1066, English and British Royals have almost e…
Royalty 101: Queens Regnant through History [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:49
I answer your questions on ruling Queens through the ages: 5 Types of Queens (Queen Regnant, Queen Consort, Dowager Queen, Queen Mother, Queen Regent) Who was the first ever Queen Regnant? What was the most common Regnal…