...The Black Death was a time period in Medieval Europe that happened during most of the 14th century. This period is called the Black Death because it was one of Europe’s darkest times in history with the emergence of the Bubonic Plague, also called Black Plague, which caused horrible symptoms that killed its victims in a short amount of time (CDC). Many people at the time did not understand how exactly the disease came about and placed the blame on people. Even though this disease was horrible and brought many consequences, it began to shape Europe as we know it and brought many technological and medical advancements (History). - The Bubonic Plague was named after buboes, which means swollen lymph node, a distinguishing feature noticed in individuals...
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...The Black Plague “The Renaissance Death of England” Jayne Ritzinger GS102 – Introduction of Life Science September 2, 2009 The Black Plague in a Medieval Perspective “The Renaissance Death of England” The Sixteenth Century and Bubonic Plague The year is 1350 and death has travelled Western Asia and Europe for a decade. The death rate has exceeded 10 million due to the Black Plague, which is the curse of Europe (Bollinger, 1983). Travelling by boat and carriage, the Black Death has infected the known world from Constantinople to London. “The first attack, known since the late sixteenth century as the Black Death but to contemporaries as “the great mortality”, occurred in southern England in 1348; by the end of 1349 it had spread to Central Scotland” (Morgan, 1984). Rats and the lice that traveled on them were the common cause, but the Sixteenth Century had no such mechanism to identify the causation of the plague “Plague is characterized by periodic disease outbreaks in rodent populations, some of which have a high death rate. During these outbreaks, hungry infected fleas that have lost their normal hosts seek other sources of blood, thus escalating the increased risk to humans and other animals frequenting the area” (Plague, 2009). As defined by the Center for Disease Control, the Black Plague is defined as follows: Plague is an infectious disease of animals and humans caused by a bacterium named Yersinia Pestis. Epidemics of plague in humans usually involve house rats...
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...The Bubonic Plague: A turning point in history The Bubonic Plague, which also goes by other names such as: the Black Death, the Black Plague, the Great Pestilence, is a disease that devastated the medieval world with a 9 out of 10 mortality rate (Vyas). It is so resilient that cases of infection are still being recorded in America today –although in a much milder manner. The plague then killed of almost one-third of Europe’s population, leaving lasting effects wherever it had touched (Bussema and Witowski). This fatal epidemic disease has since changed how we take on such diseases, and modified our tactics on handling epidemics and other contagious diseases. The Black Plague is an infection caused by the bacterium, Yersinia pestis (originally known as Pasteurella pestis) (Kohn). The name of the bacterium comes from the scientist that discovered it; French bacteriologist, Alexandre Yersin (Tyson). The pestilence has a typical incubation period of two to seven days before the symptoms begin to show. The plague has many symptoms, some of which include: chills, fever, nausea, and painful swelling of the lymph nodes (called buboes –from which the disease is named) that occur in the armpits and neck and groin. Other symptoms of the illness are: red spots on the skin that turned black, the rotting of flesh whilst still living, severe headache, weakness, and vomiting. Yet, most cases were fatal by the third day (Vyas). This disease was transferred from infected animals -most often...
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...Ring around the Rosy During the 14th century our world experienced one of the most lethal pandemics in the history of the human existence. In the span of just five short years the Bubonic Plague managed to kill nearly one-third of Europe’s population, leaving very little answers and unclear causes to such a horrendous and aggressive plague. The most common result of the Bubonic Plague was death, killing more than eighty percent of infected individuals (Benedictow 2005). Living in a time with very little medical experience and scientific understanding, the Bubonic Plague and the middle 14th century was a recipe for disaster. The Bubonic Plague; now known to be caused by Yersinia pestis of the Bacillus species, was a devastating plague in the 14th century. The concept of a pneumatically- transmitted bacteria seemed to baffle the minds of the medieval people, leaving victims to question God and their own sanity. In untreated circumstances, the mortality rate of the Bubonic plague is more than of 50%, while in treated cases the mortality rate is under 15% (The Plague 2014). Since the lack of medical knowledge in this time, typically medical treatment could make the patient more susceptible to infection and even more susceptible to the Bubonic Plague’s more...
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...bubonic plague is a zoonotic disease, usually going between rodents and thier fleas zoonotic is a disease that is infectious to both man and animals the term bubonic plague derived from a greek word meaning "groin" mainly because lymphnodes usually swell in the armpit and groin area signs and symptoms of the black plague are muscle cramps Acral gangrene: gangrene of toes nose lips fingers and/or toes Chills High fever around 102 degree Fahrenheit Smooth, painful lymph gland swelling , commonly found in the groin, but may occur in the armpits or neck, most often at the site of the initial infection (bite or scratch) seizures the bubonic plague was usually transmitted through the bite of the rat flea called Xenopsylla cheopis, this flea that are mostly found on rats and mice, seek out other prey when their host dies. the plague harmlessly lives in the fleas stomache but agrivates the flea causing them to regurgitate ingested blood which is now infected while biting a human or rodent host the bubonic plague was believed to have started in china or central asia before spreading west and estimated to have kill 25 million people in china or 30% of its population. the oriental fleas, that were infected with the bubonic plague, were living on black rats that were regular passengers on merchant ships and trader that went along the mediteranian and the silk road spreading it through out asia and europe. the mongols cut off the trade route of the silk road...
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... | |The Bubonic Plague | |Web Quest | |Madera Unified School District EETT Grant Project | |California History Standard 7.6 Students analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the civilizations of Medieval Europe. 7.6.7 Map the spread| |of the bubonic plague from Central Asia to China, the Middle East, and Europe and describe its impact on global population. | |Introduction | | | |A deadly disease invaded Europe in 1348. There was no way to tell where the disease came from, how it spread or where...
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...In the years 1346-53 an epidemic of the terrible bubonic plague, spread across Europe. This plague is more commonly recognized as the Black Death, a name that came several centuries after. In order to stop the spread of this devastating disease, it was necessary that the physicians and scientists of that day begin to research and understand certain things: where this disease came from and how it spread so fast among the population; the symptoms and stages that made this disease unique; and how it was impacting society. Research shows that one way this disease most likely evolved, was from the Central Asiatic Plateau, the stretch of dessert that touches Central Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. Most researchers believe it came from rats,...
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...several names such as Black Death, the Bubonic Plague and the Black plague. Regardless of what you call it, it was one of the world’s worst pandemic in history. This plague tore through Europe destroying villages and communities. The immediate impact was fear, chaos, and complete devastation, the long term effect proved to improve economics and societies. Black Death spread through Europe beginning in 1346 and ending in 1353. Seven years of “unexplained” deaths, the plague chose no race, color, age or gender it attacked and killed 50 million people or 60% of the population (Benedictou 2005). Symptoms of the plague began with swollen glands in the neck, armpits, and groin areas. Internal bleeding gave the skin a blackened coloring earning the name “Black Death”. Other symptoms range from red blotching of the skin “rosies” Once bitten these would appear within a couple days and the victim would die within a week. Even a more powerful strain of this plague was the pneumonic plague; this version went directly to the lungs and respiratory systems. Now not only was this spread by the fleas but also through human to human contact. Once infected a simple cough would send droplets and blood to the next victim, highly contagious and it killed in two days. It was recorded that up to five hundred people could be buried in one pit in less than a month’s time. (2011) There were a number of beliefs of how the people thought the plague began and spread: the religious...
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...The Black Plague The Black Plague was a pandemic, which reached England in June 1348-December 1349. It was later called “The Black Death” due to it killing around 50 million people. The Black Death has affected not only Europe, but other parts of the world killing many. Almost everyone feared the plague because it could possibly affect many of their lives, losing loved ones. New symbols and art were brought to the surface due to The Black Plague, such as plague doctors and even the famous song “Ring Around the Rosie”. Although there is a cure now it is still around today coming in many forms and types affecting people's daily lives. There are 3 major plagues the Justinian Plague, which was named after the 6th century Justinian emperor,...
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...grown in complexity and culture. The bubonic plague took the world to the Dark Ages, but also resulted in one of the greatest ages of enlightenment, the Renaissance. Beautiful works of art, literature, and philosophy were born from this. Somewhat sadly not all pandemics have resulted in ages of enlightenment. Often they come fast, kill even faster, and then are gone. One pandemic that still plagues the world today, with no end in sight, is AIDS. An incurable virus that became the center of attention in the 1980's. Bubonic plague and AIDS are very different in nature, but have resulted in many similar political, economic, and cultural impacts within human societies. The differences and similarities of these pandemics can help us understand pandemics better and also can help us to prepare for future pandemics. First we must look at the bubonic plague, how it spread and how it impacted the world socially, economically, and culturally. It was first recorded in Europe by a Sicilian chronicler by the name of Michele da Piazza in October of 1347, who recorded the port of Messina having twelve galleys full of sailors carrying the disease down to the marrow of their bones.1 Black Death began to really take its toll in 1348, spreading through Italy, France, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, England, Denmark, to the Balkans, Palestine, Syria, and the coast of North Africa by the spring and summer of that year. By 1350 it had reached German and Eastern Europe and finally in 1352 reached Russia...
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...Ring Around The Rosie “Ring around the rosie, pockets full of posy; ashes, ashes, we all fall down.” This renown nursery rhyme is known well around the world, but it’s origins are much darker than they seem. The Black Plague was one of the deadliest epidemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. It is said to most likely have been carried by Oriental rat fleas living on black rats who got onto merchant ships. Thousands of people suffered a painful death that dramatically decreased the population in and around Europe. The plague created a series of religious, social, and economic conflicts, all profound effects on the course of European history. At the time the Black Plague affected Europe, the church’s authority was an...
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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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...Bubonic plague is an infectious disease that is spread by the bacteria Yersinia pestis. These bacteria remain in a dormant state primarily in a rat flea’s foregut. Once the flea has bitten a victim it regurgitates the contents in its foregut into the bite location. Once the bacterium has entered into a mammal’s warm body it begins to reproduce and spread throughout the mammal’s body. The reproduction of this bacterium creates large painful swollen lymph nodes which are called buboes. Once these buboes get large enough they begin to ooze infected body fluid so that any contact between an infected person and a healthy person will facilitate the spread of this disease. (The Mayo Clinic Staff, 2012) The areas where the buboes form are the neck, armpits, upper femoral, and groin. Once a person has been infected with Yersinia pestis it usually takes 2-5 days until they begin to show signs and symptoms of the illness. These symptoms include acral gangrene which is gangrene of the extremities to include fingers, toes, lips, and tip of the nose. Total body chills that also comes with severe uncontrollable shakes. A high fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit that induces muscle cramps. Seizures are another common symptom as well as pain begins before the buboes begin to form. In very extreme cases the victim will begin to change skin color to a pinkish hue. Some more less common symptoms are the vomiting of blood, heavy breathing, aching limbs, extreme pain, and coughing. With cases that the...
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...In this project, I learned about the years between 500 and 1000 in Europe. One thing I found interesting was how admittedly grim the times were, even as people romanticized the Dark Ages. I learned about the “Dark Ages” by examining a set of Medieval Economic Laws created by The Bruce Publishing Company in the year 1936. The point of view of this source is that the Dark Ages in Europe were pretty dark because they were chopping people’s hands for not returning money that they owe. This point of view is conveyed through the quote, “Concerning false money, we have ordered that he who has been proved to have struck it shall have his hand cut off.” This quote shows that laws during the Dark Ages were way more physically brutal than any law that...
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...disgusting pestilence known as the Bubonic Plague. The epidemic, also nicknamed the Black Death, was a disease that caused painful blisters on its victims, along with chills, fever, quick heartbeat and vomiting. It first appeared in Asia in the 1330s, and spread to Europe and northern Africa in the 1340s. Since cultures differ dramatically by location, people who followed Christianity and people who followed Islam had very strong distinction in opinion about the illness. Christians and Muslims had such different responses to the Bubonic plague because of their reactions, placing the blame and acceptance of the tragedy. One reason the responses to the Black Death varied so much was the initial reactions. A quote from a Christian in this time period reads “It was a cruel and horrible thing; and I do not know where to begin to tell the cruelty and the pitiless ways. It seemed that almost everyone became stupefied from seeing the pain. And it is impossible for the human tongue...
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