The Black Death
I had just finished burying my husband when I noticed the sharp pain in my armpit followed by an ache in my groin I knew this was how it began. When I got home I went to check on the children. Timothy had dark spots starting to appear from the bleeding under the skin. Mary started coughing violently spraying a mist of blood with every cough, at least she would not be in agony much longer. It began as a painful pus-filled growth in the armpit, groin, or neck area that would grow to the size of a nut or even an apple. Next, black spots appeared caused by bleeding under the skin. The only relief would be spitting up blood because then the diseased would know death was near. This was the Black Death. Scientists have …show more content…
Christians tortured Jews until they confessed to the poisonings. These charges led to the murder of thousands of Jew across Europe (319). Another interesting theory looked toward the celestial bodies claiming a conjunction of planets caused the plague by causing earthquakes to release poisonous gases into the air. The conjunctions of the constellations brought on thunder, rain and wet south winds that dispersed the poisonous vapors caused by carcasses rotting in swamps. When the poisoned air entered the body, it went to the heart – considered, in medieval times, the organ of respiration – and then contaminated the body’s vital spirit and caused its organs to rot (Decameron Web, Treatise of the Paris Consilium). Some Christian medieval citizens believed the plague was part of the Book of Revelation which included foretold of four signs of the Apocalypse including pestilence, war, famine, and death. The Apocalypse meant that Christ’s return would be soon. Some Christians thought God was punishing them and turned to a group known as flagellants, who whipped and scourged themselves as penance of their society’s sins (McKay,
I had just finished burying my husband when I noticed the sharp pain in my armpit followed by an ache in my groin I knew this was how it began. When I got home I went to check on the children. Timothy had dark spots starting to appear from the bleeding under the skin. Mary started coughing violently spraying a mist of blood with every cough, at least she would not be in agony much longer. It began as a painful pus-filled growth in the armpit, groin, or neck area that would grow to the size of a nut or even an apple. Next, black spots appeared caused by bleeding under the skin. The only relief would be spitting up blood because then the diseased would know death was near. This was the Black Death. Scientists have …show more content…
Christians tortured Jews until they confessed to the poisonings. These charges led to the murder of thousands of Jew across Europe (319). Another interesting theory looked toward the celestial bodies claiming a conjunction of planets caused the plague by causing earthquakes to release poisonous gases into the air. The conjunctions of the constellations brought on thunder, rain and wet south winds that dispersed the poisonous vapors caused by carcasses rotting in swamps. When the poisoned air entered the body, it went to the heart – considered, in medieval times, the organ of respiration – and then contaminated the body’s vital spirit and caused its organs to rot (Decameron Web, Treatise of the Paris Consilium). Some Christian medieval citizens believed the plague was part of the Book of Revelation which included foretold of four signs of the Apocalypse including pestilence, war, famine, and death. The Apocalypse meant that Christ’s return would be soon. Some Christians thought God was punishing them and turned to a group known as flagellants, who whipped and scourged themselves as penance of their society’s sins (McKay,