The Black Plague swept from Egypt through Asia Minor and Europe at inconceivable rates, its path of destruction killing more than 100 million and plunging the world into the Dark Ages.

Today, modern medicine is capable of containing the ancient epidemic - yet a new, resistant strain could prove to be a major threat to mankind. Scourge of The Black Death conducts an in-depth investigation into the deadliest disease in history. Renowned historians trace its spread and the sweeping changes it introduced to society while scientists explain how the disease functions and detail the latest breakthroughs in the ongoing battle for containment. Archival art, period accounts, and extensive location footage reanimate the horrific plague years.

From its mysterious origins in 542 A.D. to its disturbing reappearance today, The History Channel® presents a riveting exploration into the Black Plague, the most virulent epidemic in history.