The Key Causes Of The Black Death In Medieval Europe

The Black Death was the worst epidemic in the history of the world to date. The plague killed off more than a third of the total European population during the mid-1300’s. Several people believed that the plague was punishment from God for the sins of man, while others believed it was brought about by natural causes, and there were yet others who did not care where or why the plague came but only how they could better their own lives.

The Black Death wasn’t some minor disease, but a disease so deadly and widespread at the time, that it greatly impacted Europe’s population, economy, and political structure. Carried by fleas and infected rats, the plague entered Europe through trading. According to C. Warren Hollister, “none can have emerged from the ordeal unaffected…” This portrays the severity of the plague, and how even if your life was spared by the “hands” of the Black Death, your life was changed in some way. Many people died in their homes, in hope of surviving the plague. Although many perished, those who survived were exposed to many opportunities. According to

During the 13th centuries all the way to the mid-15th century, the European nation experiences tough moments, which defined their history and the nations. The Black Death was among the many distressing pandemics in the human history, which was contributing to the death of 75 to 200 million people with the most in Europe. There are different theories, which have been developed since then to explain the deaths. The most reliable, which is based on the DNA from the victims in northern and southern Europe is the existence of the pathogen known as Yersinia Pestis, which was responsible for the plague. From there Oriental rat fleas that were popular on merchant ships and then spread in Mediterranean and Europe carried it. The death and depopulation of many places in Europe were the main changes by the Black Death. Hundred Years War was a conflict between the kings and kingdoms of France and England during these time. These were wars that took place in three stages, and the war was between the Roman Empire and the Carthage. The battle took place at around 264 BC to 146 BC. The Roman nation had wanted to expand because at that time Carthage was powerful than the Roman Empire. As the war began, in the first stage of the war, the Carthage was mighty than Roman Empire, but at the end of the third stage, the Roman Empire had defeated Carthage and expanded its Empire. There was a transformation in Rome regarding the population. Many people decided to go to the cities and abandoned the

Certain classes of people seem to be at increased risk of contracting the disease. Those who were most at risk were in situations that demanded close contact with the infected: prisoners, doctors, clergymen and nurses. It was reported that women were more susceptible, (689) also the young and all persons who were weakened by poverty and a hard life. The malady was said to have “attacked especially the meaner sort and common people—seldom the magnates.” (688) However, it cannot be said that the ruling class escaped the plague unscathed. Among the causalities of this terrible disease was Alfonzo XI of Castile.

The Great Plague killed nearly half of the European population during the fourteenth century. A plague is a widespread illness. The Illness was also known as the “Black Death”. Most of the European people believed the plague was the beginning of the end of the world. They were scarcely equipped and unready for what was to be entailed. It was by far one of the worst epidemics yet to be seen in those times.

After Edward III died in 1377, England experience domestic issues during the reign of Richard II

In 1347 the people of Medieval Europe lived very differently from how we live today. Many houses were not as clean or big, poorer people’s clothes were dirty and not warm enough and their health was very poor. These factors lead to the outbreak of the Black Death; a disease that spread across countries and affected many different cultures. Let’s look a little further into how this all began.

The plague caused people to shun their family members, friends, and pretty much anyone who was associated with the disease and “abhor all contact with the sick and all that belonged to them, thinking thereby

Along with these people, the Church also suffered. Before the Black Death transpire, the religious groups throughout Europe had strong power. However, once the plague occurred, corruptions became so out of hand that people had second thoughts on the idea of religion. Flagellants assumed the Black Death was the judgment of The Lord on sinful people. The Church could not provide answers for the people, making religion itself suffer even more. The Black Death had reached to an extent where many churches could not run anymore. Mobs and riots occurred, targeting religious groups like the Jews. This was another influence to the decrease of human population. (Black Death and Sin; Section

Many people believed the plague was God's punishment. As a result, they thought that self-punishment was the solution, and this was a desperate plea to God for mercy. Becoming a flagellant may offer a perceived spiritual refuge. Moving on, I believe that the Church disapproved of them for several reasons. To start, many thought that this movement was a challenge to the church's authority.

Furthermore, people began to see that a large amount of the church officials died even though they were of nobility. The church goers began to question why God would punish them like this. It was a common belief that “the plague was a righteous scourge sent down by God in retribution for man’s wickedness and sin” (Aberth, 118). This mentality gave rise to a group of people known as the Flagellants, who tried to compensate for their believed wrong doing. “...they were called cruciferians....

The Bubonic Plague, often referred to as the “Black Death”, was one of the most devastating diseases to ever effect the world, and its effects will always be felt. It spread faster than anyone could have prepared for and flourished in its medieval surroundings. A huge portion of Europe lost their lives, their livestock, and became mad with fear of this horrible affliction. This essay will address the ways that the disease spread and how the general public reacted to it. It will also discuss the various attempts people, such as the doctors of the time, tried to cure or prevent this disease, many that made it worse. Another aspect that will be addressed is the group of people known as “flagellants”, those who would punish themselves in hope that God would spare them from this terrible disease. Lastly, this paper will discuss the other religious aspects of the Black Death, how it brought an end to the “dark times”, the hatred and fear of the Jews, and also the social and economic effects of the impact after the disease slowly disappeared.

The Middle Ages, also known as Christendom lasted between the 11th and 15th century. The middle ages took place mainly in Europe and was a time of great changes but also a period of continuity for the majority of people living at the time (Pearson, 2013). In the 14th and 15th century the Black Death, a plague that attacks the immune system, took over Europe. It started in the 1500s and was very significant at the time as no one knew what it was and as it wiped at a third of the population. The Black Death had an impressively significant impact on the society at the time of the Middle Ages as it weakened the feudal system, peasant wages increased and the power of the Catholic Church weakened.

With a society finally starting to flourish, things take a turn for the worst with a plague spreading throughout the land. There is no doubt that the Black Death severed many bonds and norms that held

The Bubonic Plague, more commonly referred to as the "Black Death," ravaged Europe between the years 1347 and 1350 (Herzog, 2000). During this short period, according to Herzog (2000), 25 million people (which were about one third of Europe's population at the time) were killed. In another article, Herlihy (1997), however, claimed that two thirds of Europe’s population were killed. Nevertheless, it is ascertained that thousands of people died each week and dead bodies littered the streets. Once a family member had contracted the disease, the entire household was doomed to die. Parents abandoned their children, and parent-less children roamed the streets in search for food. Victims, delirious with