The mysterious 1518 mania that forced hundreds to dance uncontrollably
In short: In 1518, a phenomenon swept through Strasbourg, causing people to dance erratically for days. This video explores the unexplained outbreaks of dancing mania that spread like a disease, leaving participants exhausted or injured.
The video examines the 'dancing plague' of 1518, an event where hundreds of citizens in the then-free city of Strasbourg danced apparently unwillingly. This mania lasted for approximately two months before ending as mysteriously as it began. These outbreaks involved men, women, and children dancing in groups of hundreds or even thousands, often continuing until they collapsed from injuries or exhaustion. The phenomenon appeared to spread from town to town and country to country, behaving much like a contagious disease.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Plague that made People Dance until they Dropped Dead
- Also: Dancing plague of 1518 | Facts & Theories | Britannica
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