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How Did The Black Death Affect European Culture

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We have all heard about The Black Plague, also known as The Black Death. But have you ever wondered in what ways it affected Europe? Did it affect the cultural aspects of Europe? The Black Plague lasted from around 1347 - 1353. In October of 1347, 12 ships from the Black Sea docked at the Sicilian port of Messina. On the ship were not only sailors, but rodents who carried the disease. The plague quickly spread through Europe and in the end, killed around 1/3rd of the population, which is roughly estimated to be around 25 million people. The plague affected Europe by creating an overall fascination with death in art and literature, and by creating a hostile environment for Jewish people. Because of the Black Death, Europe became fascinated with …show more content…

Realism was a form of artwork that arose after The Black Death. Churches and monasteries were covered in various forms of religious artwork containing saints and different depictions of death, and although death seemed to fascinate so many people, that fascination really just stemmed from fear. Everyone became very scared with the concept of death and going to hell, which caused an increase in faith across many people. (Montana) The aftermath of the Black Death left a path of grief and hopelessness. This took many different artistic and cultural forms. People's individual experiences with death were reflected in the artistic expression. The disease quickly started destroying. People started to believe that dying from the plague was a sign of God's judgment and that it was the beginning of an endless period of misery. This started an intense period of religious faith and superstition. The plague also greatly affected all the Jews that were living in Western Europe at the time. When the plague began, people were desperate for an explanation of why and how the plague began. This caused people to believe that the plague was a punishment sent from God, and that everyone was being punished for their

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