The Plague: The Black In The Middle Ages

People of the Middle Ages were illiterate of the plague and its behaviours, such a contagion affected civilisations with unprecedented and immeasurable repercussions. A once inequitable economy bound to the obligations of the existing hierarchy, became distraught allowing social stratification mobility. Consequently, the feudal system lost its influential powers and soon entered its demise. With uncontrollable chaos that ravaged cities people turned to the Church for aid, though such calamity was out of their domain, as a result their supremacy dwindled. In desperation of a treatment, bizarre social constructs were created, when these proved futile superstition came into hand. Thus, it was due to the ignorance of people, that the Black …show more content…
A widely believed conspiracy was the ‘Miasma Theory’, in which a disease is contagious through the air from ‘toxic vapours.’ In attempt to defuse the scent, people burnt pine and lemon leaves, whilst others carried around herbs or camphor, though this was rather a misleading notion. Also, it was often thought that the disease was a, “product of the ‘Wrath of God,’ for their most egregious sins.” as declared by Bishop Edendon of Winchester in the ‘Voice in Rama’ speech throughout his …show more content…
The economy had become more dependant and lenient, allowing social mobility. Wherefore, feudalism had dismantled, and without a powerful jurisdiction, people followed the Church for a solution. Howbeit, the disease was out of their dominion, and society became unfaithful and desperate. It was due to this that they blindly believed in conspiracies and superstitions to resolve their problems. Thence, the surmise stating society in the middle ages did not understand the plague is irrefutable, though presuming it had a negligible influence on society is