The way in which a society responds to natural disasters is varied. This is not only true for dissimilar disasters among different civilization, even identical natural disasters can be viewed in broadly different lights. In fact, the natural disaster occurring appears to be completely irrelevant. The attitude surrounding the natural disaster is reliant on the society being afflicted.
The Mongol Empire’s response to natural disasters was one of a religious nature. They believed that religious specialists had the ability wield command over the weather. “There happened at the time to be a great drought. No sooner had the celebration of the Full Moon begun, than rain fell heavily. The people were afraid it would interfere with the processions.
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Some became recluse within a small group of well individuals believing that living without excess would aid in resisting the illness. While others believed that overindulgence was the answer. They would spend their time drinking and celebrating believing happiness was the best medicine. Some simply fled. Unfortunately, one occurrence that was universal among these widely diverse grouping was desertion. The sick or those thought to be sick were discarded, even children were not immune to this inhumane treatment. “This disaster had struck such fear into the hearts of men and women that brother abandoned brother…and – even worse, almost unbelievable – fathers and mothers neglected to tend and care for their children as if they were not their own” (203). Europe’s attitude became very much indifferent to the sick and dying, there was no religious or fate elements just simply self-preservation.
These civilizations responded to their natural disasters in occurrence with how the lived as a society. The Mongols were a spiritual civilization who believed unfavorable weather could be influenced by religious specialists and saw their natural disasters as god’s will. North Africans, on the other hand, viewed the black plague and other natural disasters with acceptance as they were nature’s way of recycling itself. Europe only saw fear in the black plaque and went through great costs to evade it. How a natural disaster is perceived is very much dependent on the society in which is being
In 1237 Batu Khan who was Genghis Khans grandson invades Russia vastly and by 1240 the City of Kiev was burned as well as other Russian cities were destroyed like Moscow, Kolomna and Ryazan. The Mongols were organized by clan lines and lived in nomadic ways in their Yursts (mobile tents), which were dragged by oxen’s. They had short-term impacts as well like the burning down of many Russian cities and destroying many churches. The Mongols had both positive and negative impacts on Russia. The negative impacts including the burning down of many cities, taking their land, cattle, bringing the bubonic plague all across Russia which killed a vast majority of Europe’s population.
In the 14th century, a contagious plague called the Black Death damaged society physically and mentally. After the Genoese were defeated by the Mongol armies, they accidently took germs of the “disease” and aboard the ship to leave. As a result, more than half of the passengers were dying slowly. This sight scared away those people waiting on shore to collect the goods because they fear death. Even though captains on the ships realized the mess they got themselves into, it was too late because the disease was spreading very quickly from one port to another.
Both the Christians and muslims had similar beliefs. The death rate of both places was very similar the European death rate was from 31-33% , while the Eastern death rate was about 25-33%.Both Europeans and middle-easterns thought that the plague was caused by miasma ,shooting starts and sins like outrageous clothing, alcohol and prostitution. Both religions thought that by building fires and drinking American clay solutions they could prevent the plague. While the both have similar beliefs the two faiths did not act siimilarly. Based on document three the europeans ' 'abamdoned family members ' ' however the muslims became scared when they saw the effects of the plague , but at least they acted with mosre acceptance which drew them closer to their faith.
The Mongols were indeed the worst. Why? They would “slay women even if they are with child” according to an Islamic historian. They would kill everyone and anyone in the cities and let the cities burn. “Men even when in great numbers fear the mongols even if there was only one” account by someone written in a letter.
The True Legacy of The Mongols In history, a frequent topic of debate is the legacy that the Mongol Empire left behind. It can easily be argued that they were nothing but murderous barbarians, a monotonous war machine. This is proven by the fact that they used biological warfare at the Siege of Caffa in 1346. The Mongols catapulted disease ridden corpses into the city of Caffa to spread the Black Plague into the city.(Wheelis)
The Mongols destroyed cities many times throughout their existence and that was how they got their reputation. One example is shown through a battle against the Russian Army, “Russian army fell quickly in the bloodstained snow, the grand prince himself killed and decapitated. By April much of Northern Russia lay in smoking ruins.[4]” The Mongols were facing off against the Russians and didn’t take it easy on them. They destroyed their entire city. Burning every one of their buildings to the ground, which is very cruel.
This displays the Mongol characteristic of adaptation and acceptance towards new cultures and ideas, implementing diversity. When the Mongols conquered most of Asia, including China and Persia, they also gained control of the continental caravan routes, which were essential to their lucrative commerce(Document J). It is a misconception that the Mongols, a successful empire that excelled in it varied commerce and trade, was barbaric due to the mature level of tolerance required for peaceful public
Mongol armies tore through most of the ancient world throughout the 13th century. Pillaging and plundering every nation in their path, the Mongols left an impressive wake of destruction and death. The Mongols shook the world with the impact of their conquests, but not of their influence was negative. Overall the Mongols brought much needed change in politics and commerce to both China and the Middle East.
The Black Death had a big impact on European religion. Because people could not understand the plague, they strongly believed that the plague was a punishment sent by God. The church claimed that God was punishing people because of the sins they have committed. They organized religious marches and told people to pray to get rid of the horrible disease. However, around 1348, Christians started accusing the Jews of bringing and spreading the plague to Europe.
Throughout the thirteenth century, the Mongols, who had previously been a nomadic tribe of people, conquered most of Asia, including China’s imperial capital. During its acme, the Mongol empire stretched from the borders of Eastern Europe all the way to the yellow sea. Whether it was by destruction or other people surrendering, the Mongols always obtained the land if they really wanted. In such a short amount of time, the Mongols conquered so much territory by using tactics of violence, fear, and by having obedient soldiers that always followed the orders of their commanders.
Most of the known world was devoured by the most notorious epidemic in history. In the 1351 , the infamous Black Death began to chew up and spit out Europe along with Asia and Africa as if being a victim of the Black Death once wasn’t horrific enough, The Great Pestilence hit Europe for the second time in the 18th century, along side that, in the 20th century Asia and Africa were revisited by The Great Plague. According to the background essay, “In five short years, the plague killed between 25 and 45% of the population it encountered.” During the time of the gruesome Black Death, two religions were widely practiced in this region of the world, Christianity and Islam. These were two religions with some different views and reasoning for this merciless period of terror and death.
During the Black Plague, the Muslims didn’t look to their God for answered to the death that was laid upon them, but they accepted it. In fact, praying the plague away is abominable, because it is a blessing from God; at the least, a Muslim should eagerly accept the divine act. (Document 4) …. Although the Muslims
Europe really didn’t know what to think of all the death that was surrounding them so they tried understanding it the best they could. Some were more rational about it and knew that they should try to avoid the dead and contact with those who may be ill. Others were scared and decided to blame it on those with different beliefs as them. They didn’t want to believe that they had done something wrong for which God would punish them. Europe just didn’t understand what was happening or what to do to make it
The reason for this is because the Mongols were taking over the land of all the people unexpectedly. They were looting and pillaging anywhere that they could and they didn't care who they ended up hurting. When they went into battle the Mongol army would also rape the women that they found in the certain villages that they went to. Even with all this happening they still managed to do certain things that are
The survivors could not wrap their heads around the amount of innocent lives that were taken, and the devastation left behind by the plague. The pandemic changed people’s lives forever, and for many changed what they believed in. No matter what religion a person followed, he/she was searching for answers. Christians and Muslims had very different views on why God would inflict such devastation on his people, but they both agreed on the idea the God’s hand played the ultimate role in the disaster. Christians responded to the devastation by claiming God inflicted the plague to rid the world of sin, whereas Muslims believed God