The Bubonic Plague: A Look Inside at the "Black Death" of Europe

In the Fourteenth Century a terrible plague broke out in Europe killing one third of the continent's entire population. This disease did not discriminate between the classes, sexes, or age groups of the population. The Black Death would soon go down in infamy as being on of Europe's most deadly diseases ever.

There seems to be no known cause for the Black Death. Some historical recollections by Europeans say that it was caused by invisible particles in the wind; while others say it was caused by tainted water wells. One thing is for certain: its origins. The Black Death originated in China. During the Middle Ages, China was bustling with busy seaports for Europeans Merchants to do trade with. It was because of these trades that goods got from Asian ports to European homes. In addition to goods being on ships, many also unknowingly, carried rats. It is believed that in October 1347 merchant ships returning from China docked in Sicily. By the time the ship was fully unloaded from its voyage, several of the crew were already dead. They died from Bubonic Plague transmitted from fleas. These fleas had previously attached themselves and infected the rats on the ship.
Within a few days, the disease had spread throughout the entire city and was making its way through the surrounding countryside. The infestation was so rapid a quote from the Italian writer Broccaccio said people "ate lunch with their friends and dinner with their ancestors in paradise".

In winter, the disease retracted. However, this was because the fleas were dormant. When spring came around, the fleas became active again, killing more people. This cycle continued, and after five years, over twenty-five million people (one-third of Europe's population) were dead. There was no one to care for the sick, administer the last rights, or bury the dead. Family members turned on each other, which left the monasteries and convents to care for the ill, but soon they too died. Death came as a final relief, as victims could not ask for a kinder way to end their suffering. Bubonic Plague caused a fever and painful swelling of the lymph glands and spots on the skin, which start off as black, and later, turn red. Most of the plague's victims died as a result of choking on their food.

The plague had its greatest impact on the church. A group called The Flagellant Brahren thought that the Black Death was sent from God as a way to punish sinners. They took matters into their own hands and traveled around Europe whipping people who were sinners, thinking these sinners would not catch this disease if they repented and were punished for their sins. When these attempts failed, people's trust in the church did also. People questioned why their prayers had not been answered. This would lead to future distrust in the church in later years.

In addition to the church being affected, so was the entire economy. An entire labor force had been wiped out resulting in a shortage of skilled and unskilled laborers. They demanded higher wages, but these requests fell on deaf ears. This would contribute greatly to the Peasant Revolts at the ends of the 1300's. No one knows quite how the Black Death was eradicated, but by the end of the 1600's it was gone forever. The Back Death, as horrible as it was, not only affected the continent's population physically, but it also contributed to people's religious, political, and economic futures.