Ancient Mysteries: The Black Death

Hosted by Leonard Nimoy, this episode of the A&E television series Ancient Mysteries addresses the devastating outbreak of the bubonic plague in the 14th century that eliminated half of Europe's population over the course of three years. The origin of the deadly plague, attempted cures, and reactions to the epidemic are discussed. The modern-day Ebola virus scare is also given significant attention, as striking comparisons are drawn between the potential crisis this disease poses and the historical outbreak of the "black death."