Life During The Black Death

Jazmine Willard

History 101-03

October 19, 2011

The Black Death

The horrific period known as the Black Death was one of the most dreadful times in all of history where many tragic deaths occurred. According to The Making of the West Peoples and Cultures textbook, “The Black Death began in 1346 in a region between the Black and Caspian seas, and a year later a Byzantine scholar, by the name of Nicephorus Georgas, identified the Black death as a pestilential disease”(388). The Black Death, also known as a pestilential disease, not only made its mark in history, but changed many lives of people during that time.  

The Black Death killed millions of people all over Europe. Starting from its breeding ground in the Middle East, where it then rapidly moved to the North African Coast, and finally Europe. “The prominent signs of this disease, that indicted a possible death were, tumorous outgrowths at the roots of thighs, and arms and simultaneously bleeding ulcerations” (389). It is said that many historians believed this disease was caused by a bacterium known as Yersinia pestis, which is the same organism that is claimed to be responsible for the many outbreaks of plaque today. Personally I believe that the disease could have been brought over from a different country or place where the water or food may have been contaminated. If that were the case it would only take one person to give the virus to someone else and the disease could easily spread. It’s the same as Chicken Pox. It is normal for everyone to experience the Chicken Pox at least once in their life, but if someone with a sick child were to bring him or her to a public school then most likely any kids who have yet to have the virus probably would get it a lot quicker than if that child were not present.

In such countries like Italian city of Pistoia for example, the government had quarantines set up, in hopes that the disease would stop spreading (390). Some others however, took more extreme measures and as an attempt to placate God for their sins, men and women who believed they had caused the plaque outbreak went to churches, took off their shirts, and one by one laid on the church floor and had themselves whipped (390). Neither of these approaches worked as plan, as the church did not approve these actions, saying that the people who did the whipping had taken on the jobs of the clergy and could not purify the body or soul doing such.

These people had dealt with a great deal of suffering, but for those who had survived it brought new opportunities as well as inspiration. With so many deaths that had occurred there was a smaller population to feed as well as less land to farm. In the end the survivors were left with more than they could ask for, but the tragedy that came from it was of a much greater loss.

Work Cited

Hunt, Lynn, Martin, Thomas R., Rosenwein, Barbara H., and Smith, Bonnie G. (2010). The Making of the West Peoples and Cultures. Concise Third Edition. Bedford/ St Martin’s: Boston, Massachusetts. 388-390.