The Black Death
Where did it come from?
When people think of Europe and the Dark Ages, they think of the
Black Death. The black death is also known as the bubonic
plague. The first significant outbreak in Europe took place in 1347
and slowed down in 1350. This plague was spread by fleas that had
Yersinia pestis bacterium. These fleas would use black rats as
transportation. The rats would go on ships, in houses and into water
supplies contaminating everything in its path. Also, it is said that
the black death first plagued the Mongol armies in Asia, and it
gradually moved westward. As the Mongols invaded territories such as
Karra they would catapult bodies that had the disease. People from
Karra would try to avoid war by fleeing (sick and all) to cities such
as Genoa and Venice. From there it would devastate Italy and spread
to France, Spain and Great Britain.
What did it do to the human body?
The bubonic plague spread throughout the body very fast. It would
start out like the common cold, giving the victim a fever. It then
begins to swell the lymph glands (which are called buboes; the reason
why the plague is called the bubonic plague). The groin and the
armpits would be the site of severe swelling, along with other parts
of the body. It was not uncommon for a person to have very bloodshot
eyes, blood noses and in many instances the victim vomitted blood.
The victim would also have several red spots all over there body,
which eventually turns into huge black gashes.
What was Its impact on Europe?
The black death had a catastrophic impact on Europe. One third of
the population would die from the disease (about 25 million). People
not yet affected by the plague would help other townspeople bury or
burn the dead. There would be mass burial sites all over Europe.
This, of course, would cause an extreme amount of anxiety between
towns people. They would not listen or trust one another in fear of
getting the disease. There was no order in this chaotic time. It
would also spark new novels such as the The Decameron by
Giovanni Boccaccio. In this novel a group of people run away from the
black death in hopes of avoiding its wraith.
Pictures and Drawings of the Black Death:
(The start of a burial site)
(A victim of the black death would look something like this)
(Swelling of the buboes)
|