Talk subjects
Perplexing Plague Peculiarities
From self-whipping flagellants to staggering death tolls, odd cures and beaked doctors, there is a lot that is considered odd and remarkable about the plague. Find out just how much in this journey into plague history and the very first talk I ever did!
Ring-A-Ring-A-Roses: Plague in Media and Folklore
Did this peculiar song herald the plague? Why is there a skeleton doing a dance in my painting? And who's that lady with the rake in my yard? I explore these and also more recent depictions of plague doctors in stories today, to see how it continues to influence art and culture.
Fear the Plague, Hunt the Witch
Horrendous times bring out the worst in people. Diseases are scary, something entirely out of most people's control. In the past, there has been a search for scapegoats to blame and targets for rage. This talk examines the link between outbreaks of plague and onsets of witch hunts.
Beyond the Black Death: Major Disease Outbreaks in History
The plague isn't the only deadly disease on the block. What about the cruelty of cholera or the terror of typhoid fever? These two epidemics are elaborated on back-to-back, focusing on their impact in 19th England and touching a little on overseas affairs.
Medieval Misconceptions I
Did castles have spiral stairs for defence? Did medieval people believe the earth was flat? And is a very rude hand gesture connected to English bowmen and their fingers? Well, no. Find out why as these myths are addressed and debunked.
Medieval Misconceptions II
Turns out, there's enough of these that one talk on the subject wasn't enough! This follow-up addresses more misconceptions of the medieval era, including medical knowledge, personal and societal hygiene and the role of women.