The Black Death was
a devastating plague that killed 25 million people in Europe from 1347 to 1352. That was almost one-third of the Europe’s
population at that time. Known as the Bubonic
Plague, it was caused by a bacteria called Yersina pestis. This plague originated in rats, was then
transmitted to fleas, and then to humans and farm animals. It transmits through the air, and by rat and
flea bites. During the 14th
century, rats were everywhere, in homes, businesses, churches, and especially on
ships.
The Bubonic
plague first appeared in Asia in the early 1330’s. In came to Europe via merchant ships
traveling from China in 1347. The first
ship infested with the plague arrived in Sicily. 12 merchant ships docked with the seamen
already dying and the rest infected. The
Italians tried to send the ships away but unfortunately their efforts were too late. The plague had spread onto the Sicilian
shore.
An eyewitness
explains, "Realizing what a deadly disaster had come to them, the people
quickly drove the Italians from their city. But the disease remained, and soon
death was everywhere. Fathers abandoned their sick sons. Lawyers refused to
come and make out wills for the dying. Friars and nuns were left to care for
the sick, and monasteries and convents were soon deserted, as they were
stricken, too. Bodies were left in empty houses, and there was no one to give
them a Christian burial." [5]
Sicily was not the only shore where merchant ships arrived from China. They also docked in Italy’s main land, France, and North African ports. Once the plague made it to Rome and Florence it was easily transported to many cities through the trade routes centered there.
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| Progression of the Black Death |
Unfortunately
they did not know why it was happening.
They did not understand how it was spreading or how to treat or prevent
it. As a result doctors refused to see
patents, priests refused to administer last rights to the sick, shop keepers
closed their stores, and family members left dying loved ones to escape catching
the disease. Many left the cities to
seek refuge in the country but unfortunately that only help spread the
disease.
An English writer
from that time period writes, "Then the grievous plague penetrated the
seacoasts from Southampton, and came to Bristol, and there almost the whole
strength of the town died, struck as it were by sudden death. There died at
Leicester in the small parish of St. Leonard more than 380, in the parish of
Holy Cross more than 400; in the parish of S. Margaret of Leicester more than
700; and so in each parish a great number. Then the bishop of Lincoln gave
general power to all and every priest to hear confessions, and absolve with
full and entire authority except in matters of debt, in which case the dying
man, if he could, should pay the debt while he lived, or others should
certainly fulfill that duty from his property after his death. In the same year
there was a great plague of sheep everywhere in the realm so that in one place
there died in one pasturage more than 5,000 sheep, and so rotted that neither
beast nor bird would touch them. And there were small prices for everything on
account of the fear of death. For there were very few who cared about riches or
anything else.... Sheep and cattle went wandering over fields and through
crops, and there was no one to go and drive or gather them for there was such a
lack of servants that no one knew what he ought to do. Wherefore many crops
perished in the fields for want of someone to gather them. The Scots, hearing
of the cruel pestilence of the English, believed it had come to them from the
avenging hand of God, and--as it was commonly reported in England--took their
oath when they wanted to swear, "By the foul death of England."
Meanwhile the
king sent proclamation that reapers and other laborers should not take more
than they had been accustomed to take (in pay). But the labourers were so
lifted up and obstinate that they would not listen to the king's command, but
if anyone wished to have them he had to give them what they wanted, and either
lose his fruit and crops, or satisfy the wishes of the workmen.
After the
pestilence, many buildings, great and small, fell into ruins in every city for
lack of inhabitants, likewise many villages and hamlets became desolate, not a
house being left in them, all having died who dwelt there; and it was probable
that many such villages would never be inhabited. In the winter following there
was such a want of servants in work of all kinds, that one would scarcely
believe that in times past there had been such a lack. And so all necessities
became so much dearer." [3]
Not
only did the plague spread quickly geographically it spread through the body
quickly killing in the matter of hours. Italian
poet Giovanni Boccaccio said its victims often "ate lunch with their
friends and dinner with their ancestors in paradise." [5] Victims
of the Black Death experienced fever, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, aches and
pains, swelling lymph glands called buboes, and painful red boils that turned
black oozing blood and pus. Boccaccio
wrote, “at the beginning of the malady, certain swellings, either on the groin
or under the armpits…waxed to the bigness of a common apple, others to the size
of an egg, some more and some less, and these the vulgar named plague-boils.” [5]
The
plague, like most illness, was most commonly considered to be a punishment from
God. This punishment was seen to be a
result of greed, blasphemy, heresy, fornication, and worldliness. This view led to purging the communities of
heretics and troublemakers. As a result communities
panicked and many people were put to death. People were known to publicly beat themselves
as penance for their sins. One doctor
stated, “Instantaneous death occurs when the aerial spirit escaping from the
eyes of the sick man strikes the healthy person standing near and looking at
the sick” [2]
By
1352 the epidemic was over but small outbreaks continued for centuries. It wasn’t until the 1600’s that the plague
for the most part disappeared. Today the
Bubonic plague still exists. Modern
medicine has reduced the impact but has not been able to eliminate it. It is treated today with heavy duty
antibiotics. Today the chance of
contracting plague is about 1 in 3 million, and of dying from it about 1 in 30
million. [1]
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| The song “Ring Around the Rosie” is actually a song children created about the Black Death. |
Watch a video on "Ring Around the Rosie"
[1] Benedictow, O. J. (2004). Risk of death from plague
today and in history. Retrieved from Bandolier:
http://www.medicine.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/booth/risk/plague.html
[2] History.com. (2010, March 5). History.com. Retrieved
from Black Death: http://www.history.com/topics/black-death
[3] Knighton, H. (2011). The Middle Ages. Retrieved
from I Saw the Black Death: http://www.themiddleages.net/life/witness.html
[4] Rosenhek, J. (2011, October). Doctors of the Black
Death. Retrieved from Doctor's Review:
http://www.doctorsreview.com/history/doctors-black-death/
[5] WideOpenDoors.net. (2011). The Middle Ages.
Retrieved from The Black Death: Bubonic Plague:
http://www.themiddleages.net/plague.html
