Marc Fennell

Not just because we're not entirely sure this actually happened, but because what it tells us about how much people in the 14th century really understood about disease, how it worked.

Another misconception that Eleanor would like to stamp out about The Black Plague is about cats, the animal, not the musical.

When you look back at a story like this where, in actual fact, something that popular culture tells us is a comprehensively European awful thing, but actually doesn't start there at all, originates in another part of the world and only gets there because of this incredible trade route, right?

When you take a step back, what does it tell you about history?

Like, what's the lesson it's telling you?

Dr. Eleanor Janager is a medieval historian.

And if you enjoyed that, good news.

Eleanor is part of the brand new season of Stuff the British Stole, premiering next week on ABC TV and iview.

In one of the episodes streaming from next Tuesday, Eleanor has the very fun challenge of working out if the English flag actually isn't from England and was maybe stolen.

And the place that reckons it was stolen from them, we mentioned in this episode of No One Saw It Coming.

Which of those cities could it be?

Stream next Tuesday and you'll find out.

No One Saw It Coming is produced by Zoe Ferguson and Rebecca Metcalf.

Angie Grant is our legendary sound engineer.

And you are our very best story engineers.

If you've got something you'd like us to look into, a bit of chapter of history, email us.

NoOneSawItComing at abc.net.au.

We have been coming to you from Gadigal Land in Sydney.

Huge week next week.

We'll have a brand new episode of No One Saw It Coming next.