...Age of Disasters The XII century was a successful century, it could be called the best century of the Middle Ages although everything was leading to something way more different in the next century. The contrasts created between the XIII and the XIV centuries were very huge. Many things that happened in the XIV century gave this century an unlikely fame. This century is recognized as the “Age of Disasters”. There were factors of many different natures that gave this century its reputation. The Hundred Year’s War was considered to be the first international war within Europe, this war was between France and England. When France’s king died, England and France claimed the rights, Felipe de Valois was supposed to be the next king but England...
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...enough to write. Who knows what literary works would have been written had it not been for the plague and the rate at which it devastated. The Black Death caused, prevented, and interrupted many works of literature. The Black Death, a plague on humanity capable of wiping out one fourth of Europe’s one hundred million people in the course of five years, made its mark between the years 1347 and 1351 (Marks). During that time, three types of plague were to have know to exist: Bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic (Marks). Although bubonic variant of the plague took the most time to kill it was still the most deadly simply due to it being the most widespread of the three (Marks). The bubonic plague got its name from the numerous buboes or cancer like growths that would develop on the victim’s armpit and groin (Marks). Another symptom that accompanied the growths was the presence of a constant fever. The buboes were swelled lymph glands as a result of the body’s lymphatic system trying to fight the disease. Basically, they were pockets of the dead white blood cells that piled up from fighting the plague bacteria. A total lymphatic shutdown was imminent when the buboes appeared. Death came in three to five days of infection (Marks). The other two types of plague, septicemic and pneumonic, were much less widespread than bubonic but in most cases more deadly. Septicemic plague is an infection of the blood stream with the Pasteurella...
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...would take a step backward because of an epidemic that almost wipeout sixty percent of the entire population. Black Death was one of the worst disasters on record (Lerner 533). This plague began in 1946 on grassland where a reservoir stretches far from the northwestern shores of Caspian Sea into Southern Russia. At the time, Southern Russia was believed to be under the rule Mongolian Empire travelling in Silk Road using caravan between China and Europe. As a result, Russia which might have become the Black Death’s European conquest, but in fact was its last, and was invaded by the disease not from the east but from the west which is China (Benedictow 4). During the rampage of the bubonic plague, the Chinese population was decimated by up to 90 percent. The Mongols who were infected with the disease surrounded a Genovese trading centre in the Crimean coast and fled the site by a ship carrying the disease with them back to Europe via ports of Sicily. The plague spread further North by major trade routes and reached Europe through its ports. Once it had reached England, it proceeded rapidly with devastating consequences throughout Eastern Europe all the way to Russia (Duiker 322). There were many theories that existed at the time about the reason behind the Black Death. Most people believed that the plague and mass illness was a punishment from God for their sins (Benedictow 5). And others also believe that the end of the world had come. This crisis made people respond with religious...
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...The Black Death stands out as the most dramatic and lifestyle changing event during the 14th century. This was a widespread epidemic of the bubonic plague that passed from Asia and through Europe in the mid fourteenth century. The first signs of the Black Death in Europe were present around the fall of 1346. In the span of three years, the Black Death killed one third of all the people in Europe. This traumatic population change coming into the Late Middle Ages caused great changes in European culture and lifestyle. How exactly did the plaque begin? The Black Death was one of many catastrophes to occur following an increase in population during the High Middle Ages (1000-1300). The population of Europe grew from 38 million to 74 million in this time. Before the plague, Europe had been enjoying an increased state of growth in both agriculture and structure in society. Cities began to rise with artisans, farmers, and other crafts people specializing in their own field of work. The daily amount of contact between the European people in the cities and...
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...lived in a blissful ignorance. Its citizens were isolated from the dirty and disgraceful world by the “holy veil” of the real murderer. The great Plague aroused from the fares corners of the continent affecting only the most popular social and political figures who received a lot of love and sympathy from citizens. The bubonic plague is a severe epidermis infection which causes the body...
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...How the Black Death Affected the Modern World The Black Death is the worst plague that mankind has ever had to face, much worse than anything we face today. The mortality rate was astounding; whoever was unfortunate enough to become infected with the Black Death would die in a matter of days while suffering through a great deal of pain and agony (Snell). Its peak was around 1348-1353 in Europe, ranging from England all the way to Eastern Europe and beyond (The Black Death, 1348, 2001). The Black Death is thought to have started in China or central Asia, before spreading west. The plague then travelled along the Silk Road and reached the Crimea by 1347. From there, it was probably carried by Oriental rat fleas living on the black rats that were regular passengers on merchant ships. Spreading throughout the Mediterranean and Europe, the Black Death is estimated to have killed 30% to 60% of Europe's population. All in all, the plague reduced the world population from an estimated 450 million to between 350 and 375 million in the 14th century (Ibeji, 2011). The plague disease, generally thought to be caused by Yersinia pestis, is commonly present in populations of fleas carried by ground rodents, including marmots, in various areas including Central Asia, Kurdistan, Western Asia, Northern India and Uganda (Edmonds). Plague was reportedly first introduced to Europe at the trading city of Caffa in the Crimea in 1347 (Whipps, 2008). After a protracted siege, during which the Mongol...
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...LONDON IN 1665: THE GREAT PLAGUE Ellery Kamp HIST 4300: Junior Seminar December 7, 2015 In 1665, Londoners experienced their last, and most detrimental, wave of the Bubonic Plague; this specific outbreak is known today as The Great Plague. Population analyses provided by the Office of National Statistics along with the Bills of Mortality that were published on a weekly basis during the plague have concluded that around one hundred thousand people living in England died due to the plague, which was extremely significant because the estimated population of England at the time was under four hundred thousand people. The devastation that Londoners experienced during this outbreak was unexpected and far worse than any previous outbreak, leading many people to search for both an explanation for the plague’s occurrence and a successful way to stop it. Although modern research has attributed the origin of the bubonic plague to fleas and rats, medical and scientific technology was not advanced enough in 1665 to come to that conclusion; the invention of the microscope was necessary in order to study the specific mode of infection. At the time of the Great Plague, there was no revelation of the real cause of the transmission and infection of the plague; there were only general ideas of “pestilential miasmas” and “corrupted air” that were largely attributed to religious causes, such as being a punishment sent from God. Just as during other outbreaks of the so-called pestilence...
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...Between the years of 1348 and 1350 Europe, and more specifically England, was struck by a pandemic that we know of today as the Bubonic Plague or the Black Death. England was stuck by this pandemic six more times before the end of the 14th century leaving its citizens terrified of when the disease will hit next and in what village or town it is approaching. This disease proved to be extremely contagious and resulted in the death of roughly one third to one half of Europe’s entire population. Nearly all victims that contracted this disease died within three days. The actual cause of this disease went unknown for centuries but during the 1800’s scientist began to develop theories on its origin. During the mid fourteenth century prior to the first outbreak, Europe had a growing population as well as technological growth. Hygiene was not yet recognized and as a result of this people began to dump their wastes into the street resulting in a breeding ground for bacteria and parasites. They had no legitimate method of sanitation for the cities at this point and in turn the streets were left with the perfect environment for a transmissible disease to spread. The waste also attracted more than just germs, it led to a greater population of rats. The filth of the streets was the perfect environments for the rats to continually breed and increase there numbers at an alarming rate. It was previously believed that rats were the main cause of the disease (that as well as a theory...
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...experiments that took place during this time period were done on humans, most of which were conducted forcibly and without the consent of its participants. There were two major vanguards that carried out these experiments, one of which was under the rationalization of eugenics. The other was research carried out for war purposes. For example, the development of chemical and biological warfare was being attempted during this time period. The Japanese during WWII had a disturbingly particular interest in the development of biological weapons. According to the documentary “Unit 731: Nightmare in Manchuria” the Japanese conducted research on unknowing human participants in order to develop biological weapons. In 1940 and 1941, Unit 731 bred bubonic plague infested fleas that were then spread by low flying planes over Chinese...
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...injected into the body. Vaccines are used to expose our immune systems to pathogens so we can create memory cells. When a pathogen from a vaccine is injected into the body the our primary immune response still takes place so this is how we make memory cells. These memory cells will be ready to fight the pathogen if it ever reappears. Vaccines have become apart of our everyday fight against pathogens. Now even though a vaccination shot stings/hurts there are many pros or benefits for getting a vaccine. For example vaccines can eradicate disease while preventing serious illness or death. Vaccinated children have been proven to have lesser symptoms than those of unvaccinated children. Vaccines have caused a decrease in epidemics like the bubonic plague and pandemics like the swine flu. The costs of vaccinations are inexpensive compared to treating diseases after you get them. The best thing about vaccinations is that you don’t have to experience the full symptoms of the disease to gain immunity. While there are many pros to getting a vaccination there are also a few cons. For example before 1999 the vaccines had mercury in them which has been proved to be a neurotoxin to infants. Vaccine immunity might not be as effective as natural immunity. Maybe all of the vaccines that we inject overload the immune systems and prevent them from fighting other diseases. Anetocodal evidence suggests that MMR vaccines have led to the onset of autism. Then all the allergies of today have probably...
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...Another form of transportation for sickness was steamships. Bubonic plague was carried by “the steamship network that arose in the 1870’s was the vehicle that dispersed the infection around the globe, and did so, once the epidemic broke out in Canton and Hong Kong, with a speed that was limited only by the speed with which a ship could carry its colony of infected rats and fleas to a new port. Speed was obviously decisive in allowing a chain of infection to remain unbroken from port to port.” Often times over longer voyages, the plague could die out within the rats and fleas because the shipmen would become immune to the plague and there would be no persons left aboard that could be a sustainable host for the disease. The ocean was too wide for the plague to be carried from ports of the Mongol...
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...Byzantine and Islamic appeared before the Middle Ages. The Middle Ages is the middle period of three traditional division of Western history: early, the high, and the late Middle Ages. Middle Ages is an important part of Western Civilization. It through many different period of time of the Middle Ages helps Western Civilization development economy and political. Each period of Middle Ages affect to how Civilization changes and growth. Western Civilization had more strong and created many intellect men. Also, the last Pagan Europe was converted to Christianity with the Baltic people in the High Middle Ages, bringing them to Western Civilization as well. I. Byzantine and Islamic influence A. Byzantine influence In the textbook Humanities in the Western Tradition, First Edition Marvin Perry, Baruch College, City University of New York, Emeritus J. Wayne Baker, University of Akron Pamela Pfeiffer Hollinger, the University of Akron that discussion Byzantine and Islamic their cultural contribution to Western Civilization. * “The Byzantine and Islam have in common” by contributing writer that almost 700 years Byzantine and Islamic cultural fought the remains of the Roman Empire, but they also hared many cultural political and artistic that shape their societies in many ways. * Advantage: * Byzantine cultural contributions to Western Civilization Byzantine developed vital economy, sophisticated intellectual and artistic and also they had strong government...
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...Mark Imber Cultures 292 The Courtier – Response to Question 2 In the times of the Renaissance there were distinct social levels throughout the hierarchy of the Roman culture. Through this hierarchy there were dukes, serfs, peasants, aristocrats, and one specific group called “courtiers”. The book written by, Baldesar Castiglione, The Courtier helps define exactly what this social class consisted of. This book highlights many of the areas in which one would need to excel at to be considered better than an average man, and on his way to becoming a courtier. The main idea that being a courtier stems from is that of a universal man, or known during the Renaissance, “unos universal”. This was the idea of a man who was able to be proficient in activities across the board including math, sports, music, looks and so forth. Throughout, The Courtier two men discuss and argue what exactly it means to be a courtier. Through this discussion they are creating a broad set of guidelines to teach others how to be a courtier, and a gentlemen of Rome. I think that through the entirety of this book the main message that Castiglione is trying to get across is what exactly does it take to become a courtier. Throughout the book there are countless instances where it has specific guidelines as to what it means to be a courtier. “But to come to some particulars: … true profession of the Courtier must be that of arms” (Castiglione 24). This is one instance in the book where it gives a particular...
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...Hygiene and Infectious Disease During the Middle Ages Cayman Scott Jacksonville University | In the period known as the Renaissance, the transition of the Middle Ages to the modern world was taking place, showing diversity | |in cultural and religious practices and philosophical and artistic impressions, including an emphasis in education. What coincides | |during this era is the eventual change in belief system regarding hygiene and the thought process of infection causes, treatments and | |preventive measures. | |The relation of religion to disease process was widely accepted, as diseases manifested upon the body were believed to be derived from | |sin. It was generally accepted to find the relief of ailments in disease through prayer, meditation, religious pilgrimage and | |ritualistic practice. Many practicing physicians were priests or clerics and it was common to find hospitals treating illness to be on | |the grounds of monasteries and churches. As the body was seen as part of a universal whole, the concept of atonement of sin to | |eradicate one's health maladies was commonplace. The general belief of practitioners was that diseases were part of the original four | |humors relating to specific body fluids, blood, phlegm, and black and yellow bile, coordinating with elemental properties of fire, | |water, earth...
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...Climate Scare Is all the hype about man made climate change going to destroy the human race. In The 11th Hour by Leonardo DiCaprio, we hear and see the perceived effects man-made climate change is having on our planet. Flooding, hurricanes, and drought, all caused by man’s use of fossil fuels, our only chance of survival, eliminate our use of fossil fuels. Bill McKibben agrees with this theory, in “350 Science” he informs us the current level of carbon dioxide (CO2), 392 parts per million, is much too high. His suggestion is that carbon sequestering is necessary to prevent our destruction. Patrick Moore reiterates this theory in “An Inconvenient Fact”. He contradicts DiCaprio’s belief of curtailing forestry and encourages improved forestry as a tool for carbon sequestering. While The 11th Hour suggests hurricanes, and flooding are caused by man, Scott Mandia tells us differently in “The Little Ice Age in Europe”. In it he describes conditions in Europe during ice age periods that mirror the conditions DiCaprio and others predict in The 11th Hour. We know that the CO2 levels are rising, but the dooms day predictions are false and misleading. All of their predictions have happened in recorded history, during times of colder temperatures and lower CO2 levels. Drought and horrible storms will occur no matter what level of CO2 is in the atmosphere or the average temperature is, we need to dedicate more resources to preparing for these disasters. Leonardo DiCaprio narrated...
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