Pneumonic Plague: The Black Death

The Black Death was an important moment in human history, as it showed how a poorly understood disease could spread rapidly through an unprepared populace. The Black Death made a great impact on the people of that time, including the fall of the economy. The origins of the Black Death have been unknown until recent years. Gene sequencing has determined that the plague emerged in China more than 2,600 years ago. However, the first historical record of an actual epidemic was in 1338-1339. It infected the Black Sea port of Kaffa. As trade grew, the disease spread to Europe, where it killed sixty percent of the European population. There are different name for the Black Death that have been used over the years. Some include: the Black Plague, …show more content…
Symptoms include, but are not limited to: abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, fever and chills, extreme weakness, bleeding, shock, and skin turning black. However, Septicemic plague can lead to death before symptoms appear. When the plague bacterium spread to the lungs, Pneumonic plague begins to form. This manifestation is the most lethal from of the disease. Pneumonic plague is the only form that can be transmitted from person to person. It could be easily spread through air, when coughing or sneezing. Symptoms include, but are not limited to: trouble breathing, chest pain, fever, headache, overall weakness, and bloody sputum.
The Black Death was spread in various ways, depending on the manifestation. Bubonic plague was spread by the fleas that lived on plague infected rats. Such rats were present on trading ships. Septicemic plague was most commonly spread through contact with open soars. The Pneumonic plague is the most easily transmitted of the three. It could spread through something as trivial as a sneeze. This specific manifestation could jump from person to person with rapid …show more content…
The Catholic Church, having lost much power because of it, had fractured enough to allow for groups to challenge its power. The people became less willing to follow the laws of clergymen, as well as political figures who had close links with the Church. In fact, people believe that there is a minor connection between the rise of more profane authority figures and the Black Death 's beginning . People developed their own ideas and did what they wanted to. No longer did people do everything the Church told them to. The Plague made people grow independence and courage. During the Black Death many sick people were left without any care except from the charity of friends; though this seldom happened. Most of them were men and women who did little more than bring the sick what they wanted and watch them die. Beautiful and honorable women when they became sick did immoral things. They did not hesitate to expose themselves to any man, for they were compelled to do so by their sickness. People believed this is what caused looser morals in those who