Historie moru v českých zemích – Wondrák Eduard (2020)

Are you interested in how the plague reached Europe? Why did medieval doctors wear strange masks resembling bird beaks during plague epidemics? Do you know any other work by Daniel Defoe besides Robinson Crusoe? What was a dryák? Did you know that even the family of Jan Amos Comenius was affected by the plague? Do you have an idea of how quarantine was conducted in the 17th century? Eduard Wondrák's publication provides contemporary information about the plague: assumptions about its origin, the circumstances of its spread, and the progress of the plague through the Czech lands. It maps artistic works that dealt with the plague, highlights the role of printing, describes preventive and therapeutic measures, and also recalls famous personalities whose lives – like the lives of all – were fundamentally influenced by the Black Death. It is estimated that more than 200,000,000 people died from the plague worldwide. The impacts on the economy, agriculture, culture, and society were unimaginable. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that even between 2010 and 2015, 3,248 people were infected with the plague, and 584 of them died. Although the plague is currently not present in the Czech Republic, its reminder can serve as a strong memento: new pandemics continue to emerge. And we don't have to look far.