The Plague of Change
Chaos struck Europe in the 14th century as the Black Death swept the continent. This tragedy came from central Asia, and then in late 1347-1348 spreads to much of Europe where approximately one third of the population died within just two short years. This catastrophe was a major mystery with no even attack plan. In various parts of the continent upwards of 90% of the population died. Many asked the cause of this deadly disease, as well as if it had a divine origin. From this plague came much change. People, systems, values, and beliefs began to transform as people began to fend for only themselves. The black death affected Europe in a demographic way by changing the social relations, economic system, and values of the people living during this time period, therefore changing the balance of the entire continent. …show more content…
In The onset of the Black Death by Giovanni Boccaccio, he states that God has sent the people this disease to them as a retribution for their sinfulness. This appears to be God’s way of purifying his Earth again by ridding it of the sinful ways and people. However, on another note, the disease is said to come from black rats. According to Ole J. Benedictow in his piece called “The Black Death: The Greatest Catastrophe Ever” which was published in History Today Volume 55 Issue 3 March 2005, he states that this disease is caused by bacterium Yersinia pestis that occurs when wild rodents, such as black rats live in close courters with humans. No matter what the origin of this disease is, it brings about “tumors in the groin or the armpits, some of which grew as large as a common apple, others as an egg, some more, some less” (Boccaccio para.
Chaos struck Europe in the 14th century as the Black Death swept the continent. This tragedy came from central Asia, and then in late 1347-1348 spreads to much of Europe where approximately one third of the population died within just two short years. This catastrophe was a major mystery with no even attack plan. In various parts of the continent upwards of 90% of the population died. Many asked the cause of this deadly disease, as well as if it had a divine origin. From this plague came much change. People, systems, values, and beliefs began to transform as people began to fend for only themselves. The black death affected Europe in a demographic way by changing the social relations, economic system, and values of the people living during this time period, therefore changing the balance of the entire continent. …show more content…
In The onset of the Black Death by Giovanni Boccaccio, he states that God has sent the people this disease to them as a retribution for their sinfulness. This appears to be God’s way of purifying his Earth again by ridding it of the sinful ways and people. However, on another note, the disease is said to come from black rats. According to Ole J. Benedictow in his piece called “The Black Death: The Greatest Catastrophe Ever” which was published in History Today Volume 55 Issue 3 March 2005, he states that this disease is caused by bacterium Yersinia pestis that occurs when wild rodents, such as black rats live in close courters with humans. No matter what the origin of this disease is, it brings about “tumors in the groin or the armpits, some of which grew as large as a common apple, others as an egg, some more, some less” (Boccaccio para.