When people think of Medieval diseases, hysterical dancing is not usually what first comes to mind. Yet in 14th and 15th century Germany, dozens of ordinary people claimed to be infected by the ‘dancing plague’. What was this mysterious phenomenon? What caused it? And was it even a real disease?
Strap in as Dr. Anthony Delaney and Dr. Maddy Pelling from History Hit's After Dark podcast speak to Dr. Eleanor Janega to discover why these people just couldn’t stop dancing.
Up Next in Medieval
-
Peasants' Revolt - Part Two: London's...
In part two we investigate the fiery and frenetic days following 13th June 1381. With huge numbers of peasants having gathered around London... things were about to turn violent.
We follow their footsteps as they cross London Bridge and enter the city. Destruction starts quickly as they begin t...
-
Agincourt: The Real Story
On October 25th 1415, Henry V of England took on the mighty French forces at the Battle of Agincourt. Despite being heavily outnumbered, his troops won. It would become one of the most legendary victories in English history - a tale of bravery and triumph against all the odds, inspiring everyone ...
-
Saving Timbuktu's Manuscripts
For centuries the city of Timbuktu was famed as a golden metropolis situated on the southern fringes of the Sahara; tales of its immense wealth and its reputation as a key centre of learning obsessed travellers and adventurers for many hundreds of years. Timbuktu certainly has one of the most ill...
12 Comments