Plague, famine and chivalry: a human history of the 14th century

Welcome to the History Extra podcast, fascinating historical conversations from the makers of BBC History magazine. Plague, war, regicide, famine, revolt. The 14th century turned the world on its head for those living in England. In her new book, Septed Isle, historian Helen Card charts this turbulent period through the lives of three very different monarchs, each with their own idea of what it meant to wield power. Exploring the humanity of those behind the crown, she speaks to Emily Briffitt to shed new light on this pivotal era of English history and the people who lived through it.

Now we're here to talk all about your new book, Septidial. It's all about the 14th century. It's a new history, a human history of the 14th century. But the 14th century has often been dubbed the calamitous 14th century. Why has it got such a bad reputation?

Well, I think it's fair to say that some pretty bad things did happen in the 14th century. I mean the greatest human catastrophe, the Black Death, happened in the 14th century. That was also a period of famine. two major wars. There was a lot that went on, two regicides as well.

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