The Black Plague
During the sixth century, an overwhelming epidemic struck Constantinople and spread westward through what is modern day Greece, Italy, France, and Spain. This epidemic, later known as The Black Death killed thousands of people throughout the 1340's and 1350's (Herlihy 20). "Plague" is the disease that still exists today that spread through Europe in the mid fourteenth century. This epidemic spread very quickly from ship, to the city, and to the countryside. Even a rumor of this murderous disease would create a panic amongst citizens (Shrewsbury 74). The Black Death, also known as the Black Plague followed trade routes both by land and sea carried by infected humans as well as rats, and their fleas (Shrewsbury 83). The rats themselves were found in the unsanitary conditions in most medieval cities. The rats themselves were not to blame, they were just as defenseless against the plague as humans (Shrewsbury 83). Later on, it was discovered that a sign of the onset of a disease was when the rat population was destroyed by an epizootic
When a house was known to be infected, it was marked with a red cross (Shrewsbury 297). There are many myths as to how the Black Death spread, but one of the more famous philosophies in southern France was that the Jews were to blame for the epidemic (Mustafa notes 2001). The common people blamed beggars or Jews for the spread of the disease. Some recognized leaders of medieval society gave credence to this rumor. Psychologically, Europe had a breakdown (Mustafa notes 2004). This was what allowed the Black Death to spread away from major cities and more into the isolated areas of the country (Herlihy 49-50). These vapors supposedly came from swamps. In many parts of Europe flagellants (somebody who whips himself or herself as a form of penance) would beat each other bloody, and attack Jews who were commonly accused of spreading the deadly disease. During this time, physicians believed that the illness was airborne and that this was what spread the illness. The physician guy de Chauliac, for example, first mentions the rumor in 1348. (the animal equivalent of an epidemic) (Shrewsbury 84). This accounted for the unexplained sudden appearance of the plague in homes, towns, and countries that had previously escaped an epidemic (Shrewsbury 86). Fleas could be found on human, in clothing, and baggage. Throughout Medieval times, the Black Plague had tremendous psychological effect on a person.
Common topics in this essay:
Clement VI,
Black Plague,
Black Death,
France Jews,
Psychologically Europe,
,
black death,
Throughout Medieval,
France Spain,
Pope Clement,
pope clement vi,
black death spread,
herlihy 65,
mustafa notes,
southern france,
fourteenth century,
city countryside,
trade routes,
rats themselves,
epidemic shrewsbury,
shrewsbury 83,
|
Acceptance Essays
