Dancing plague of 1518 - There is even controversy concerning the number of deaths

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dancing_plague_of_1518

25 points · 5 comments · view on lemmy.world

5 Comments

chipamogli@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 3y

I knew about this because of this video from Sam O'Nella Academy

FlyingSquid@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3y (3 replies)

I think the mass hysteria explanation is the more interesting and, to me, more likely explanation. I think it was too widespread to blame on ergot poisoning.

CoachDom@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 4 pts · 3y (2 replies)

Yeah, it makes you think what's going through a persons mind...

I wouldn't rule out the food poisoning - we have documented examples of whole villages and cities succumbing to sickness because of polluted water source or wrong materials being used for the water supply.

FlyingSquid@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 3y (1 reply)

If it were geographically restricted, I would think food poisoning was more likely, but it was spread over a wide area.

CoachDom@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 2 pts · 3y

True