Before the Black Death plagued Europe during the late Middle Ages, the continent was already facing the worst. The “little ice age” had created colder weather leading to failed harvests and malnourishment, ultimately leaving most of the population either dead or susceptible to disease. In addition to this, improvements in ship design, though profitable for merchants, invited pathogen-ridden vermin to infect all they crossed paths with. This, in accompaniment with a lack of public health and sanitation, would later contribute to the epidemic that was the Black Death.
Furthermore, one of the major preceding conditions to the Black Death was the “little ice age.” During this period, weather in Europe shifted, creating several intense rain storms …show more content…
In 1300, developments in ship design allowed for full year-round shipping to take place. While European merchants benefitted from these innovations, little did they know they were also harboring disease-stricken rats and insects who disembarked whenever they wanted to along with the exports such as grain and cloth. This leisurely transfer of disease through the shipping boats would encourage the spread of the Black Death later on. In fact, as seen later, Genoese ships in 1347 brought the plague with them from Kaffa to Messina, eventually spreading across Sicily. This example proves that these new blueprints although beneficial in terms of commerce, set the stage for what would be more prominently the spread of the Black Death rather than the spread of …show more content…
During the 1300s, medieval urban streets were narrow and crowded with human excrement and dead animals. This disgusting scenery would prove to hearten contagions such as the Black Death, as this situation attracted disease-ridden rodents as well as fleas and body lice. Moreover, European urban populations during this time were extremely high and people were closely crowded together. These dense areas, in addition to the low standards of personal hygiene, made transfer of disease easy, wiping out one-half to two-thirds of its populations, as seen in Florence, Italy. Besides a lack of personal hygiene, it is important to note that these people, already weakened by the previous famine, which left their bodies highly susceptible to disease, was further heightened by all of the added imperfections of city sanitation. Even after, when the Black Death did ravage through Europe and standards of public health did improve, these advancements were seen to be too late, as the death toll was already incredibly
Furthermore, one of the major preceding conditions to the Black Death was the “little ice age.” During this period, weather in Europe shifted, creating several intense rain storms …show more content…
In 1300, developments in ship design allowed for full year-round shipping to take place. While European merchants benefitted from these innovations, little did they know they were also harboring disease-stricken rats and insects who disembarked whenever they wanted to along with the exports such as grain and cloth. This leisurely transfer of disease through the shipping boats would encourage the spread of the Black Death later on. In fact, as seen later, Genoese ships in 1347 brought the plague with them from Kaffa to Messina, eventually spreading across Sicily. This example proves that these new blueprints although beneficial in terms of commerce, set the stage for what would be more prominently the spread of the Black Death rather than the spread of …show more content…
During the 1300s, medieval urban streets were narrow and crowded with human excrement and dead animals. This disgusting scenery would prove to hearten contagions such as the Black Death, as this situation attracted disease-ridden rodents as well as fleas and body lice. Moreover, European urban populations during this time were extremely high and people were closely crowded together. These dense areas, in addition to the low standards of personal hygiene, made transfer of disease easy, wiping out one-half to two-thirds of its populations, as seen in Florence, Italy. Besides a lack of personal hygiene, it is important to note that these people, already weakened by the previous famine, which left their bodies highly susceptible to disease, was further heightened by all of the added imperfections of city sanitation. Even after, when the Black Death did ravage through Europe and standards of public health did improve, these advancements were seen to be too late, as the death toll was already incredibly