The World the Plague Made

"A Spectator Book of the Year"
"A Prospect Best History Book of the Year"
"A FiveBooks Best Economic History Book of the Year"
"Finalist for the PROSE Award in European History, Association of American Publishers"
"Shortlisted for the Wolfson History Prize"
"An Australian Most Anticipated Book"
"A fantastic display of scholarship."---Talha Burki, The Lancet
"[A] sweeping revisionist history. . . . Rich in erudition and startling new insights, this fresh look at the impact of the Black Death upon world history is a must for history lovers and plague aficionados alike." * Library Journal *
"A provocative and impressive history of an earth-shattering event." * Publishers Weekly *
"[A] bold, tremendously researched work."---Jordan Michael Smith, Undark
"The World the Plague Made is worth reading simply as a narrative of these extraordinary events by a historian who combines command of detail with a grandiose vision of factors driving human expansion. Belich is sweeping in his range, provocative in his assertions and ambitious in his conceptions. His writing is full of colourful metaphors, unexpected turns of phrase and elegant put-downs of the many scholars who lack the imagination to share his insights."---Jonathan Sumption, Literary Review
"Sweeping, ambitious."---Peter Frankopan, The Spectator
"There is much to learn from this carefully considered book."---Peter Sarris, The Critic
"The World the Plague Made convincingly demonstrates that the Black Death influenced many aspects of human life. In short, it is global history."---Okori Uneke, International Social Science Review
"Belich draws on a vast array of bang-up-to-date material with the latest historical research, from plague pathogens to the role of war in centralising the early modern and modern state. The ride is a provocative and often exhilarating one. . . . Belich asks profound questions and does so with considerable elan."---Peter Frankopan, Prospect
"Terribly interesting and educational. . . . [A] fascinating book. It obviously comes recommended to students of the history of infectious disease, but also to readers receptive to the idea that history can be decisively shaped by curveballs thrown by nature."---Leon Vlieger, Inquisitive Biologist
"Packed with extensive and detailed information. . . .The World the Plague Made is a monumental book that will be required reading for anyone interested in the transition to modernity and it offers much food for thought about the methodology of ‘global history’ and history over a longue durée."---Justine Firnhaber-Baker, History Today
"Deeply-researched and erudite."---Sheldon Kirshner, The Times of Israel
"James Belich is one of our absolutely necessary historians; his lens is wide as the world itself."---Geordie Williamson, The Australian
"Meticulously researched."---Ann G. Carmichael, Journal of Interdisciplinary History
"Belich covers the immediate, devastating impact of [the Black Death] and its medium- and long-term effects on the economic and social order. He displays careful regard for the different experiences of countries and regions in Europe and beyond. . . . The World the Plague Made may be the best or most comprehensive work on the Black Death and its aftermath to date."---Jeffrey Mazo, Survival
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The World the Plague Made: The Black Death and the Rise of Europe sweeps across five centuries with extraordinary breadth and depth to answer one of history’s biggest questions: what caused Europe’s rise to global hegemony and its 'great divergence' from the rest of Eurasia in terms of
economic development by the 19th century? . . . Belich makes a persuasive case for the mutually
beneficial relationship between the big picture generalist and the thematic, regional, or chronological specialist.

"---Graeme Thompson, Dorchester Review
"Fascinating. . . .Despite having to explain a number of knotty topics, ranging from disease to labour markets to wars, it does so lucidly and engagingly."---Helen Morgan, Financial Times