| The Black Death |
In the late 1320s, an especially virulent form of plague erupted in Mongolia's
Gobi desert. Within a generation, it had spread eastward to China and killed
two-thirds of the population. Mongol nomads also carried it west along trade
routes, and all along the 14th century trails, the plague made a home for itself.
By 1349, one-third of the Islamic world had perished from it.
Gobi desert. Within a generation, it had spread eastward to China and killed
two-thirds of the population. Mongol nomads also carried it west along trade
routes, and all along the 14th century trails, the plague made a home for itself.
By 1349, one-third of the Islamic world had perished from it.
The bacillus enters the blood stream going directly to the lymph nodes, enlarging
and inflaming of the glands causing buboes to appear in the groin, armpit, or
neck. The plague is transmitted by the rat flea (Xenopsylla Cheopis). The rat
infects the flea, and the flea then spreads the disease to humans and over 100
other species of animals.
and inflaming of the glands causing buboes to appear in the groin, armpit, or
neck. The plague is transmitted by the rat flea (Xenopsylla Cheopis). The rat
infects the flea, and the flea then spreads the disease to humans and over 100
other species of animals.
The first symptoms of Bubonic Plague are headache, nausea, vomiting, and aching joints. The
lymph nodes swell painfully and the temperature soars. The victim becomes extremely exhausted
and develops a purple tint to the skin...hence, "black" plague. Death comes in about four days.
lymph nodes swell painfully and the temperature soars. The victim becomes extremely exhausted
and develops a purple tint to the skin...hence, "black" plague. Death comes in about four days.
Medieval doctors blamed everything from the planets to cats to earthquakes for the disease, and
tried to stop it by any means possible. Believing that the air had become "stiff " and had to be
broken by loud noise, some suggested bell ringing, guns and even birds flying around in rooms.
Eventually, they put two and two together and recognised contagion as a factor. Once preventative
quarantines were in force, the death rate fell. But it didn't get to the source: in the warm months,
and all year in southern Europe, there was at least one family of black rats per household and an
estimated average of three fleas per rat.
tried to stop it by any means possible. Believing that the air had become "stiff " and had to be
broken by loud noise, some suggested bell ringing, guns and even birds flying around in rooms.
Eventually, they put two and two together and recognised contagion as a factor. Once preventative
quarantines were in force, the death rate fell. But it didn't get to the source: in the warm months,
and all year in southern Europe, there was at least one family of black rats per household and an
estimated average of three fleas per rat.
The Black Death arrived in England in June of 1348 and
devastated London. By mid-July, over 1,000 deaths per
week were reported in London. The gates of the city were
closed, turning it into a virtual plague ward and people were
desperate to escape. 6,000 people per week were dying by
August. The Lord Mayor ordered all dogs and cats destroyed
on rumors that they spread the disease. Author Daniel Defoe,
in his Journal of the Plague Years, estimated that 40,000
dogs and 200,000 cats were killed. Sadly, these were natural
enemies of rats!
devastated London. By mid-July, over 1,000 deaths per
week were reported in London. The gates of the city were
closed, turning it into a virtual plague ward and people were
desperate to escape. 6,000 people per week were dying by
August. The Lord Mayor ordered all dogs and cats destroyed
on rumors that they spread the disease. Author Daniel Defoe,
in his Journal of the Plague Years, estimated that 40,000
dogs and 200,000 cats were killed. Sadly, these were natural
enemies of rats!
Bubonic plague (Yersinia pestis) had been absent from
Western Europe for nearly a millennium when it appeared in
1348. Its entrance was immediate and devastating. In some
cities, two thirds of the population succumbed to the plague in
the first two years. Government, commerce and trade came to
a stand still. For the next 200 to 300 years, there would be
intermittent outbreaks of the disease.
Western Europe for nearly a millennium when it appeared in
1348. Its entrance was immediate and devastating. In some
cities, two thirds of the population succumbed to the plague in
the first two years. Government, commerce and trade came to
a stand still. For the next 200 to 300 years, there would be
intermittent outbreaks of the disease.
Italian merchants from Genoa, who in 1346 had travelled to the Black Sea ports, caught the plague
and carried what came to be called the Black Death back to Europe in 1347. From Genoa, it went
to Pisa and Siena and ravaged other Italian cities. 45%-75% of Florence residents died and Venice
lost 60% of its populace. The Florentine Giovanni Boccaccio in the introduction to his Decameron
said: "Such was the cruelty of heaven and, to a great degree, of man that, between March and the
following July, it is estimated that more than 100,000 human beings lost their lives within the
walls of Florence, what with the ravages attendant on the plague and the barbarity of the
survivors towards the sick."
and carried what came to be called the Black Death back to Europe in 1347. From Genoa, it went
to Pisa and Siena and ravaged other Italian cities. 45%-75% of Florence residents died and Venice
lost 60% of its populace. The Florentine Giovanni Boccaccio in the introduction to his Decameron
said: "Such was the cruelty of heaven and, to a great degree, of man that, between March and the
following July, it is estimated that more than 100,000 human beings lost their lives within the
walls of Florence, what with the ravages attendant on the plague and the barbarity of the
survivors towards the sick."
At night, the call from the plague carts rolling by sad, dark
homes in the lanes rang out, "Bring out your dead!" Thick
rags were sometimes tied around the wheels by sensitive
drivers so that people would not have to hear the wagons of
death approaching. From almost every house, a blackened
body of a loved one was brought out and thrown on the truck
to be burned or buried in large pits.
homes in the lanes rang out, "Bring out your dead!" Thick
rags were sometimes tied around the wheels by sensitive
drivers so that people would not have to hear the wagons of
death approaching. From almost every house, a blackened
body of a loved one was brought out and thrown on the truck
to be burned or buried in large pits.
Approximately 25 million Europeans out of a total population of 40 million fell victim to the plague
that rolled over Europe from 1348-52. The Black Death struck almost all of Germany again during
and after the Thirty Years War, 1618 to 1648, via travelling soldiers, claiming thousands of
victims. In 1663, the plague ravaged Holland. Then, for some inexplicable reason, the pandemic
suddenly halted and largely disappeared around 1670, although it would hit Austria again in 1711,
the Balkans from 1770-1772, and Marseilles in 1720 where it breathed its last gasp.
that rolled over Europe from 1348-52. The Black Death struck almost all of Germany again during
and after the Thirty Years War, 1618 to 1648, via travelling soldiers, claiming thousands of
victims. In 1663, the plague ravaged Holland. Then, for some inexplicable reason, the pandemic
suddenly halted and largely disappeared around 1670, although it would hit Austria again in 1711,
the Balkans from 1770-1772, and Marseilles in 1720 where it breathed its last gasp.
According to the Church, the Black Death was seen as a
punishment from God. Groups of people called Flagellants
marched from village to village, whipping themselves with
metal-tipped scourges in self-sacrifice, bargaining with God to
stop punishing the world.
punishment from God. Groups of people called Flagellants
marched from village to village, whipping themselves with
metal-tipped scourges in self-sacrifice, bargaining with God to
stop punishing the world.
| Ring around the rosies, A pocket full of posies, Ashes, ashes! We all fall down. |
Major Plague epidemics had occurred in Egypt in 540, Constantinople in 542, and then in Europe
and Asia (the Plague of Justinian) in the following decade; In this case, the 14th century European
plague followed the caravan routes and was in the lower Volga River basin in 1345, the Caucasus
and Crimea by 1346, and Constantinople, Alexandria, Cyprus, Sicily and Italy by 1347. In 1348, it
hit Marseilles and almost 60% of the population succumbed. Next, it hit Paris, Germany, the Low
Countries and Norway in 1349, eastern Europe by 1350 and finally Russia in 1351. Even Pope
Clement VI caught it in Avignon but recovered. The Pope would one day have to consecrate the
Rhone River so that corpses could be dumped into it.
and Asia (the Plague of Justinian) in the following decade; In this case, the 14th century European
plague followed the caravan routes and was in the lower Volga River basin in 1345, the Caucasus
and Crimea by 1346, and Constantinople, Alexandria, Cyprus, Sicily and Italy by 1347. In 1348, it
hit Marseilles and almost 60% of the population succumbed. Next, it hit Paris, Germany, the Low
Countries and Norway in 1349, eastern Europe by 1350 and finally Russia in 1351. Even Pope
Clement VI caught it in Avignon but recovered. The Pope would one day have to consecrate the
Rhone River so that corpses could be dumped into it.
50% of the English clergy, having had intimate contact with the dead and dying, died themselves.
Eventually, over 50% of Britain's population died. The Black Death and other plagues wiped out
20 to 30 percent of the German population in the second half of the 14th century alone. It
continued to torment with occasional outbreaks for another 300 years. Normal life was not
possible, and it gave way to hysterical reactions and witch hunting. Increased vigilance at the town-
gates preventing soldiers, vagrants and traveling merchants from entering cities sometimes helped
curb the spread, but sometimes had ghastly results.
Eventually, over 50% of Britain's population died. The Black Death and other plagues wiped out
20 to 30 percent of the German population in the second half of the 14th century alone. It
continued to torment with occasional outbreaks for another 300 years. Normal life was not
possible, and it gave way to hysterical reactions and witch hunting. Increased vigilance at the town-
gates preventing soldiers, vagrants and traveling merchants from entering cities sometimes helped
curb the spread, but sometimes had ghastly results.
Rosies are the rosary beads for prayer.
Posies masked the objectionable odor of
Plague victims. Ashes symbolize a burnt
corpse. Fall down means to die.
Posies masked the objectionable odor of
Plague victims. Ashes symbolize a burnt
corpse. Fall down means to die.
