Black_Death

The Black Death was one of the worst natural disasters. A disastrous plague touched down in Europe in the fall of 1347 A.D and swept across it throughout the mid- fourteenth century having several negative and positive effects on Europe’s culture, politics, population and economy. Almost one-third of Europe’s population died. Although many see the effects of the plague only negative, I will talk about some positive effects as well. But first lets start off with a little information on what the Black Death was and how it was transmitted.[1] The Black Death came in three forms, the pneumonic, septicemic, and bubonic. All forms were caused by a bacterium called Yersinia pestis. Each different form of plague killed people in a very vicious way. The bubonic plague was the most commonly seen form of the Black Death. The symptoms were enlarged lymph nodes around arm pits, neck and groin. Victims were subject to headaches, nausea, aching joints, severe fevers, and vomiting. The mortality rate for the bubonic plague was 30-75%.[2] The pneumonic plague was the second most commonly seen form of the Black Death. The pneumonic plague infected the lungs. Symptoms included slimy saliva mixed with mucus covered with blood. As the disease progressed, the saliva mixed with mucus became free flowing and bright red. The mortality rate for the pneumonic plague was 90-95%.[3] The septicemic plague was the rarest form of them all. The mortality rate was close to 100% and even today there is no treatment. Symptoms were a high fever and skin turning deep shades of purple. The Black Death got its name from the deep purple that looked almost black which was left on the victim’s skin after they died. Victims usually died the same day symptoms appeared.[4] The culprits who transmitted this disease were Oriental Rat Fleas carried on the back of black rats. The three forms of the Black Death were transmitted in two ways. The septicemic and bubonic plague, were transmitted with the direct bite of an infected flea. First the flea would drink the rat blood that carries the bacteria. Then the bacteria multiplied inside the flea, blocking the flea’s stomach and causing it to become very hungry. The flea would then start viciously biting hosts mainly because the flea was unable to satisfy its hunger due to the blocked feeding tube. The flea then regurgitates blood into the open wound of a human and the human becomes infected. [5] The pneumonic plague was transmitted differently than the other two forms. It was transmitted airborne through droplets sprayed from the lungs and mouth of an infected person who coughed. In the droplets were the bacteria that caused the plague. The bacteria then entered the lungs of another person and started attacking the lungs and throat.[6] The plague seemed to follow the path of traders and those who fled their cities to escape the plague. It is believed that the plague first originated in Asia and began to infect thousands of people. The infected traders in Asia then went to India to trade and soon the plague raced through India leaving behind cities of dead bodies. It then swept up into the Middle East and killed many people in the massive cities of Constantinople and Cairo. [7] The effects of the Black Death were both positive and negative. But there is no question that it revolutionized the late Middle Ages and transformed Europe politically, economically, and socially. Some of the effects that came out of this tragic disaster were horrific and devastating while others were remarkable. How does one suffer so much and still be able to recover let along prosper and grow' How do you take something so negative and horrific and turn it into something positive' This to me shows unbelievable strength that truly does fascinate me.[8] Of all the aspects of Europe, the economy was hit the hardest by the plague. Financial business was disrupted because debtors died and so did their whole family. Creditors simply had no one to collect money from. Also construction projects stopped and people who were skilled at using special machinery died in the plague. This was a big problem because valuable laborers who were skilled at running mills or farming died in the plague. These people are very important because they are the ones that bring in money into the economy. Thus as the skilled laborers declined so did the economy. Although this was a negative effect, on the other hand it was positive because the skilled laborers benefited from all of this. [9] Since many skilled laborers died in the plague, the ones who survived were that much more valuable. The shortage of laborers led to the surviving laborers to be in more demand and ultimately they gained some sort of power. Towns began to advertise for skilled laborers, offering high wages. They were given land so they can farm to feed the population. As a result, the society structure changed and gave poor laborers more say. Fearing the peasants would flee and create their own independent farms, their demands for higher wages were granted as well. [10] Another negative effect was the decline of the Christian church. It lost its prestige, spiritual authority, and leadership over the people. This was mainly because the church promised cures, treatment, and an explanation for the plague. They said it was God’s will but the reason for this punishment was unknown. However, that didn’t satisfy the people because they wanted answers that the priests and bishops did not have. As a result, people began to doubt the clergy and started to become more interested in secular alternatives to problems facing the European society. [11] Also the Christian church declined because the plague killed many of the clergy members. After the plague was over, there was a severe shortage of clergy members. This resulted in a big growth of new clergy members, most of whom were less educated than their ancestors. Over the years most of these clergy members became incompetent. Thus the failure of the clergy to help the suffering during the plague combined with the incompetence of the clergy caused resentment among the people.[12] The Black Death also brought a negative effect towards Europeans outlook on certain people. Minorities began to be persecuted and blamed for the plague. One group of people that were targeted was gypsies. Another group that was targeted were witches which was really a way to accuse women. And a couple of other groups targeted were Jews and heretics. Many people believed the rumors that the plague was caused by the deliberate poisoning of wells by the Jews. These groups were targeted mainly because people wanted answers so they began to believe whatever they heard. And of course people who appeared to be different in society were targeted.[13] Another positive effect was that the Black Death led to the modernization of medicine. Before the Black Death, the practice of medicine was based on superstition therefore the practice failed. Doctors would wear objects on their faces with herbs thinking that it would prevent them from getting the disease. It was a way of filtering the air because they thought it was what was causing the disease and this technique had no effect on them. However, after the Black Death, the mind set shifted and many practitioners began to study and examine why disease was spreading and how it affected the human body. As a result, autopsies began to be conducted too see how the human body was affected. Also, towns and villages began to develop local health boards and sanitation was enforced. Hospitals were created as a way to keep all the sick in one place. Religious leaders were hired in hospitals and began to provide care for people with disease.[14] The Black Death had a negative impact on European art. A tone of despair began to appear in many different art forms. One example can be seen in tomb sculptures. Before the Black Death, tomb sculptures showed the lord in his armor along with a sword and shield in good healthy conditions. However, after the plague there is a disturbing change. The sculptures of some show half-decomposed bodies with parts of the skeleton visible. The clothes were rags and some showed worms in the flesh. It is very disturbing to understand how such bleakness could be portrayed as an artistic style.[15] This is similarly seen in paintings too. The style was known as the danse macabre, the Dance of Death. The paintings show skeletons mingling with living men in daily routines. Examples are peasants at a harvest festival, workmen at a construction site, or hunters in forests. And in each scene there are skeletons mingled with the living. [16] Another type of art was called juxtaposition, two random objects moving in parallel. The motif was to catch humans at their happiest moments and remind them of horror and loss. These works were requested by churches or city councils and they were displayed in public places. Artists saw these frightening images as a great work of art which to me is mind bobbling because why would someone want to be reminded of death. And that was the main message in these paintings.[17] One of the worst effects of the plague was that it came not once, but over and over. However, it was never as bad as the first time. A couple of times the plague covered Europe again, but not with such devastation. It was mainly this recurrence that reduced European population so much, as countries never had the chance to recover properly before another one would occur. It struck again and again in the fifteenth century, but less frequently than the fourteenth century. It was so devastating that parts of Europe did not recover their population before the plague until the seventeenth century.[18] Although the population drastically decreased because of the plague, there was also a positive side to all of this. One positive effect was that the small amount of population who survived this disease, gained a natural immunity to the plague. This was very good since the plague recurred over the following three hundred years after the Black Death. Thus, the plague did not cause the population to shrink as fast as it did in the mid- fourteenth century. Another positive effect was people spread out fearing that they would get infected too. As a result, the population recovered quickly and ultimately grew. [19] The plague did take its toll on the course of politics, but it had no permanent effect. The negative effect was that the political system declined. King Afonso the eleventh of Castile was a reigning monarch who died because of the plague. Also, the queens of Aragon and France, and the son of the Byzantine emperor died as well. The Hundred Years’ War was suspended in 1348 because so many soldiers died. City councils were destroyed and whole families of local nobles were wiped out. Many courts were closed down. [20] On the other hand, the plague brought some positive effects toward the political system as it quickly recovered. New courts soon became available and the legal mess caused by so many deaths was eventually sorted out. This showed that the European political system was strong enough to recover quickly and regain its control over its countries and people. People soon began to realize how powerful the political system really was and it motivated them to make improvements. This attitude ultimately strengthened the political system of Europe. [21] ----------------------- [1] Cartwright, Frederick F. Disease and History. 7 May 1991. Dorset Press. 14 Dec.      2007 . [2] Skip, Knox. "The Black Death." History of Western Civilization. Boise State      University. 8 Dec. 2007 . [3] Skip, Knox. "The Black Death." History of Western Civilization. Boise State      University. 8 Dec. 2007 . [4] Skip, Knox. "The Black Death." History of Western Civilization. Boise State      University. 8 Dec. 2007 . [5] Cartwright, Frederick F. Disease and History. 7 May 1991. Dorset Press. 14 Dec.      2007 . [6] Cartwright, Frederick F. Disease and History. 7 May 1991. Dorset Press. 14 Dec.      2007 . [7] Bartlett, Elizabeth. Aetiology and Epidemiology of Bubonic Plague in 16th and      17th Century. 22 Dec. 2007 . [8] Corzine, Phyllis. The Black Death. N.p.: Lucent Books, 1997. [9] Corzine, Phyllis. The Black Death. N.p.: Lucent Books, 1997. [10] Corzine, Phyllis. The Black Death. N.p.: Lucent Books, 1997. [11] Herlihy, David. "The Black Death and the Transformation of the West."      Encyclopedia. 44. 21 Dec. 2007 . [12] Snell, Melissa. The Black Death. 17 Apr. 1997. 18 Dec. 2007      . [13] Corzine, Phyllis. The Black Death. N.p.: Lucent Books, 1997. [14] Cartwright, Frederick F. Disease and History. 7 May 1991. Dorset Press. 14 Dec.      2007 . [15] Skip, Knox. "The Black Death." History of Western Civilization. Boise State      University. 8 Dec. 2007 . [16] Skip, Knox. "The Black Death." History of Western Civilization. Boise State      University. 8 Dec. 2007 . [17] Skip, Knox. "The Black Death." History of Western Civilization. Boise State      University. 8 Dec. 2007 . [18] Corzine, Phyllis. The Black Death. N.p.: Lucent Books, 1997. [19] Herlihy, David. "The Black Death and the Transformation of the West."      Encyclopedia. 44. 21 Dec. 2007 . [20] Snell, Melissa. The Black Death. 17 Apr. 1997. 18 Dec. 2007      . [21] Snell, Melissa. The Black Death. 17 Apr. 1997. 18 Dec. 2007      . Even after several recurrences of the plague, Europe still continued to rebuild itself and gradually became stronger every time. Although there were more negative effects than positive in Europe’s culture, politics and economy; the plague balanced the European population for the future. The Black Death ultimately strengthened the people and forced them to make radical changes. It showed the might of the European continent as well as its will to survive in times of crisis. The Black Death truly did transform Europe politically, economically, socially and laid a strong foundation for future rulers.22 X 22 Herlihy, David. "The Black Death and the Transformation of the West."      Encyclopedia. 44. 21 Dec. 2007 . BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Bartlett, Elizabeth. Aetiology and Epidemiology of Bubonic Plague in 16th and      17th Century. 22 Dec. 2007 . 2. Cartwright, Frederick F. Disease and History. 7 May 1991. Dorset Press. 14 Dec.      2007 . 3. Corzine, Phyllis. The Black Death. N.p.: Lucent Books, 1997. 4. Herlihy, David. "The Black Death and the Transformation of the West."      Encyclopedia. 44. 21 Dec. 2007 . 5. Skip, Knox. "The Black Death." History of Western Civilization. Boise State      University. 8 Dec. 2007 . 6. Snell, Melissa. The Black Death. 17 Apr. 1997. 18 Dec. 2007      .