The Decline Of The Plague

History reveals the mid-14th century as a very unfortunate time for Europe. It was during this period when the continent became afflicted by a terrible plague. The source of the pathogen is known today as bubonic but was colloquially known as “The Black Death” to Europeans of the day. The plague caused a tremendous number of deaths and was a catalyst of change, severely impacting Europe’s cultural, political and religious institutions.

What is the plague? The plague or referred to as the Black Death, according to the CDC (2015), “is a disease that affects humans and other mammals and caused by the Yersinia pestis bacteria. Humans usually get plague after being bitten by a rodent flea that is carrying the plague bacterium or by handling an animal infected with plague”. There are three categories of a plague. There is the bubonic plague, which is the most common form. With this form bacteria infects the lymph system and causes it to become inflamed. Symptoms of this type of plague are fever, headache, chills, and swollen and tender lymph nodes, which are called buboes. Then there is the Septicemic, which occurs when the bacteria multiply in the blood. Symptoms of this type of plague are fever, chills, extreme weakness, abdominal pain, shock, and possibly bleeding into the skin and other organs. Also, skin and other tissues may turn black and die, especially fingers, toes and the nose (CDC, 2015). Then there is the Pneumonic Plague, which is the most serious form of plague and occurs when Y. pestis bacteria infect the lungs and cause pneumonia (NIH, 2015). This is the only form of the plague that can be transmitted human to human. Symptoms of this form of the plague are ever, headache, weakness, and a rapidly

The Black Death was the second major plague outbreak in history, the first being the Justinian Plague in 541. The Black Death is believed to have been started in Central Asia. It was then spread to Europe with trade and attacks from Mongol armies. Most notable of these attacks was an attack on the major trade city of Caffa. Many believe that during the Siege of Caffa in 1346 Mongols catapulted infected bodies into the city, as an early form of biological warfare, but the exact method of the outbreaks entrance into Europe is unknown, as research on the Siege of Caffa has shown:

The Black Death, also known as the Bubonic plague, was a serious pandemic that killed more than one-third of Europe’s population. Between 1347-1352, the Black Death had “reportedly killed more than 20 million people.” The plague originated from Asia before traveling throughout Europe and the Mediterranean by fleas infested rats transported through ships. The infested ships had then landed in European ports such as the following: “Genoa, Venice, Messina, and other more.” Thus, the starting the pandemic by the spreading of the highly contagious bacterial infection disease around Europe along with their imports and exports.

The Black Death was a plague that struck in Europe in 1347 and was made worse by its rapid spread and the previous famines in Europe. The first records of the plague were in central Asia, specifically Mongolia. The Plague moved closer to Europe through trade routes because plague-carrying fleas would create homes in the fur of ship rats, and many ships began to carry the plague. Eventually the Plague spread to Europe because one of the 12 vessels traveling from Crimea brought it to Sicily in October, 1347. In the early 13th century, before the Plague hit Europe, there was a rise of urban centers and the population was growing because of advanced farming techniques which were introduced.

In the mid 1300’s the Black Plague (Black Death) made its way into Europe. The plague had social impacts, economic impacts, and political impacts. The plague affected everybody's life regardless where you were on the social ladder. Everybody who got the disease was dead in three to five days. The few years the plague was in Europe it was affecting them 150 years later.

The Black Plague or Black Death was an outbreak of a disease that was spread through rats, feces, fleas, and physical contact. The epidemic began in China, where, during wars, soldiers hurled infected bodies at Italian soldiers, consequently the physical contact. The Italians would go back home on their ships, which was infested with rats and fleas. Unknowingly, they would spread the newfound disease amongst those they came into contact with when they returned to Italy. In the spring of 1348, the disease reached Italy and began to spread like wildfire. Three years later, the Plague had already taken 25%-50% of Europe’s population. The Black Plague was so devastating due to the ignorance of it, trade routes, and fear.

Amongst the devastation and despair the Black Death left in its wake, it also brought with it some much-needed change to the way medieval Europeans were living. Although it ended many innocent lives, it also began a new era of social and economic living. In the years following the first outbreak of the plague, medical knowledge and awareness of hygiene dramatically improved, as did the living and working conditions of the workers. Other benefits included the rapid growth of Europe’s middle class and thus the fall of the feudal system, the loss of the church’s supreme authority, and the increase in economic power for medieval women.

The Bubonic Plague came to Europe in 1347. It was brought on ships with goods from Asia. The disease followed on trade routes as it swept through Europe. The manure and trash in Europe helped the disease spread and hard to get away from since the disease was carried by rats. The plague began with swellings as big as apples. The swellings spread as the body started to be covered in dark spots and sickness set in (document

The black death is believed to have began in central Asia in the mid-thirteen hundreds, and killed millions. After it spread across Asia it was then carried down the Silk Road reaching Crimea by 1343. Scientists believe that the plague was carried by fleas on rodents, such as rats, being normal passengers traveling on merchant ships across the Mediterranean. The fleas were believed to have bacteria called Yersinia pestis, which is commonly present in the flea population on ground rodents in certain areas such as Central Asia, Kurdistan, Western Asia, Northern India, and Uganda. Scientists believe that all three outbreaks of the epidemic began in China. The disease was devastating to the economy of Europe and Asia, making it hard for people to find employees, and forcing them to pay higher wages. The plague was supposedly

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

The prevalence of disease in the thirteenth century was very common in Europe,and Africa, later on spread to parts of Asia. Currently the bubonic is not that common but is still infecting a small portion of the earth. The Bubonic Plague is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Yersinia Pestis, a zoonotic bacteria, usually found in small animals and their fleas. It is transmitted between animals and humans by the bite of infected fleas, direct contact, inhalation and rarely, ingestion of infective materials.

“The Black Death plague was one of the worst things to happen to Europe in the years 1346-53. The Black Death came from central Asia in the autumn to Britain in 1346. Also known as the bubonic plague, it spreads by infected fleas, the epidemic swept through over the better part of the next year. This horrible disease destroyed many lives and killed hundreds upon hundreds of people. It was probably one of the worst plagues in Europe.

The plague of the black death was a panic and disaster in Western Europe because it leads the death of ⅓ of the population. It quickly spread all over the continent, destroying full towns and cities. Moreover, the plague reached its peak of destructions in 1349, which was a “wretched, terrible, destructive year, the remnants of the people alone remain.” Life before the black death arrived for the serfs it was unpleasant and short. Nevertheless, Europe before the black death arrived was successful and the trade at the time was strong. The spread of the plagues was traumatic and unexpected because it spread so quickly.

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.