Change in European Understanding of Plague in the 1348 versus 1352 Known as the “Black Death,” one of the most devastating plague pandemic wiped out approximately 30 to 60 percent of the European population, peaking in between 1348 and 1350 . It caused massive religious, social, and economic, upheaval in the European society causing great changes in the European culture and lifestyle1. Finally, when after three and a half years the first wave passed in 1351, it spared few regions causing devastation in towns, rural communities, families, and religious institutions . The plague was reportedly first introduced to Europe via the ports of Caffa and Sicily in 1347, when several Italian merchant ships returned from a trip to the Black Sea, one of the key links in trade with China .
The plague then started to infect thousands and thousands until 35% of Europe’s population was deceased. This reduced the world population in total to seventy-five to one hundred million people. Massive loss of life was caused. For a short time war stopped and trade declined. Many of the serfs died, so the remaining ones demanded higher wages.
Throughout history, Europe has faced many adversities such as plagues that immediately impacted the people. The Justinian plague, which lasted from 541-549 AD, and the Black Death, which affected Europe from 1347-1351, are two such plagues that affected the societies of Europe. These plagues brought death tolls that affected the economy and military strength of countries. As a result of the Justian Plague, almost a third of the Byzantine population was wiped out. While many believe that plagues only brought about destruction, the plagues that affected Europe during the Middle Ages didn't only negatively influence the nations but also caused the region to enter a new age of prosperity.
The Plague During the 1300s Asia was struck with one of the most deadly diseases, the plague. This deadly disease is very contagious, if you are in the same room with the person that is infected, the disease is already inside you and you could soon get it. Back in the 1300s when the plague broke out the people in the towns would wear cloth over their mouths and noses to protect them. After having contact with the infected person their clothes would be burned to kill the disease.
In 1347, Europe had just been infected by the Black Death. This epidemic killed over 2/3 of Europe’s population and lasted for over five years. The pathogen that caused the Black Death was Yersinia Pestis which causes many forms of plague. The Plague originated in central and south Asia then traveled through trade routes like the Silk Road, all the way to Sicily The Black Death killed most of Europe’s population, thus ending Feudalism by having not enough serfs and workers to run fields and farms. The land owners started to offer more for their work and labor, making the lower class more wealthy, and providing more jobs.
The reactions from the Christians and the Muslims to the greatly feared disease, known as the Black Death or the Great Plague were different in several ways. The first Plague was documented from 541 to 544 CE. Known as the Plague of Justinian. The Plague came in three different ways: bubonic, pneumonic, and septicemic. With bubonic being the most common.
The plague raged throughout Europe from the fifteenth to the eighteenth century evoking various responses from the people who experienced its terror. It affected all regions of Europe, killing one-third of the population. Various responses to the plague expressed different beliefs and concerns including exploitation, fear, and religious superstition. During the course of the plague these beliefs and concerns underwent change. During the outbreak of the plague fear dominated Europe, and as time passed fear became more irrational and superstitious.
One of the biggest summer nuisance would be the mosquito, but more specifically the Ades aegypti mosquito. The Aedes aegypti is the vector for yellow fever and the cause of the numerous deaths. In her book The American Plague: The Untold Story of Yellow Fever, The Epidemic the Shaped Our History, Molly Caldwell Crosby presents the idea that the mosquito is not just the only reason an epidemic occurred in the 18th century. This story accounts for the disease that broke out across the world and nearly destroyed almost all of North America’s population, which some believe could have been avoided by simple quarantine analysis and sanitary methods.
Woosh! Everyone is in their homes, trying to protect themselves from the deadly disease sweeping through the countryside. That plague was the Black Death, and it killed nearly two-thirds of the population in Medieval Europe. Miasma, bad air, and rats are possible causes of the horrible plague Black Death. In exhibit D, titled “The Miasma”, it explains that Plague doctors wore strange masks to protect from Miasma.
According to Ole J. Benedictow “Inevitably [the Black Plague] had an enormous impact on European society and greatly affected the dynamics of change and development from the medieval to Early Modern period. A historical turning point, as well as a vast human tragedy, the Black Death of 1346-53 is unparalleled in human history.” It was one of the most devastating diseases in history
The Black Death arrived in Europe in the year 1347 and was also known as the Black Plague. This horrible disease spread throughout Europe in places such as Scandinavia, Spain, Britain, Italy, Greece, Moscow, London, Venice, Genoa, Caffa, Constantinople, Tabriz, Naples, Athens, , Baghdad, Mecca, Aden. It also spread throughout some places in Africa like Tunis, Marrakesh, Tripoli, Alexandria, Egypt. Asia was also affected by the plague it spread through places such as India, Bagan, China, Xian, Hangzhou and Hubei. There are many short term and long term effects of the plague.
The plague is usually treated by strong and effective antibiotics, intravenous fluids, oxygen, and sometimes breathing support. People who come into contact with patients with the Pneumonic Plague are usually given a short course of weak antibiotics as a safety measure. SOMETIME OLD WAYS ARE NOT THE BEST WAYS! People in medieval Europe did some crazy things while trying to cure the black death. Some examples of this include: 1.open your vains and let a pint of blood pour out 2.
It was the Spring of 1348, and the citizens of Europe were malnourished due to limited food supplies for such a large population. This made them more susceptible to the outbreak of the Black Death. The Black Death originated in Asia, then moved westward into Sicily. From Sicily, the plague crept its way up through Europe infecting millions of people, in total killing more than one third of Europe’s population. In fact, over fifty percent of the population of Siena died, along with fifty percent of Paris, eighty percent of Florence, and over two thirds of Venice.
I believe the Christians and Muslims,during the 1300’s, had very different responses to the”The Black Death” or “The Plague.” The Christians and Muslims had the same foundation in their religions. Each religion has a man who spoke to or is from God. The religions both believe that the disease was a punishment from God, but went about in different ways; however, the religions have done so many things together during the disease, they also agree that the Jews were the ones to bring The Plague to Europe.
The economic impact of this contagious disease which spread across Europe during the Middle Ages affected the entire continent. It is, however, extremely difficult to gather the data needed to calculate the economic consequences of these infections. An analysis of various medieval infectious diseases can add to enlightening the possible economic and cultural consequences of plagues. The outcome of every epidemic is a systematic study and its effects are not always the same.
