Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Conversation
The Conversation
Alex Brown, Associate Professor of Medieval History, Durham University

Medieval plague survivors left us graffiti, court records and a lesson for COVID

Graffiti inscription about the Black Death at St Mary's church, Ashwell Jack1956/Wikipedia, CC BY

Memories of pandemics are often contentious. They can be disputed, uncomfortable and politically charged. As the COVID-19 pandemic begins to feel more distant, governments, communities and families have started asking how it should be remembered.

Efforts range from personal memorials for lost loved ones to official commemoration programmes. Looking at how earlier societies remembered pandemics can help inform how we commemorate COVID-19 today.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.