From 1346 to 1353, a period spanning the 14th century, the world experienced one of the most devastating pandemics in history. The epidemic that killed an estimated 75 million to 200 million people in Eurasia was known as the Black Death. It marked the advent of the most devastating pandemic in human history and left an indelible mark on populaces’ minds and cultures.
The Black Death sparked widespread hysteria, fear and chaos across Europe, with medieval chroniclers collectively describing the epidemic as the “Great Mortality”. With profound implications in virtually every world culture, it hemorrhaged the European population, eradicated up to one-third of Europe’s population and triggered social, economic and spiritual crises.
Mysterious Origins of the Black Death
Although the etiology of the Black Death remains somewhat inconclusive, it is most likely that it was an airborne form of plague spread through rodent populations, with birds and humans the main vehicles for dissemination. Rodents carried the bacteria Yersinia pestis, which resulted in severe plague outbreaks in major areas of Europe, and this bacterium was spread through rats and fleas carried by birds.
Humans were infected by one of three primary symptoms, these being bubonic plague, septicemic plague and pneumonic/pharyngeal plague. The traditional symptom of bubonic plague was swellings, known as buboes, in the lymph nodes around the neck, armpits and groin of victims. Septicemic plague was identified by the presence of blood infection or sepsis and the pneumonic or pharyngeal plague by the suffocation of victims due to the swelling of the throat and mouth.
Unravelling the Course of the Black Death
The fragility of the political atmosphere and the lack of washing facilities contributed to the spread of plague throughout Europe. Highly populous cities such as Rome and Constantinople were especially hard-hit, with mortality rates spanning entire cities. Plague would typically travel along roads, and as such carriers were commonly suspected, including material that had been brought from areas where the plague had been previously observed.
The infected would typically begin to feel the adverse effects of the plague within days, feeling severe pain and nausea.
“Men and women alike, all had lumps in the groin, or in their armpits, some of which were large, some small, and some midway. Nearly all of them at the onset vomited blood.” Giovanni Boccaccio – Decameron
As the disease spread, European governments’ responses further complicated matters. Fear and shock spread like wildfire, and acts of public victimization and persecution took place against any suspicious persons. Social tensions further heightened between individuals belonging to different religions and countries, as some suspected the Jews or those living near bodies of water such as the sea. Such was the fear of the infection that burnings of homes were often conducted and entire cities were put into quarantine.
The Long-Lasting Social Aftermath of the Black Death
Though life did eventually return to “normal” after the Black Death, much of the affected world had been transformed.
The creation of mass graves and unusual patterns of death left a mark in the minds of the survivors. This, compounded with the suspicious behavior of governments, made it hard for life to return to normal in cities ravaged by the Black Death.
The epidemic spurred a burst of religious devotion among Europeans and as a consequence, the Church enjoyed a surge in public thought and praise as people attested to its support in the face of the plague. Myths that surrounded the plague grew, with people falsely attributing certain magical powers or forces to those who survived.
The Black Death also caused immense economic devastation, as Europe had lost an estimated one-third of its population during the five-year wide epidemic. This created a massive labor shortage, which led to a newfound sense of freedom and newfound earnings for many, as hours were shortened and wages were increased. This rise in wages, coupled with the general shortage of goods, meant prices began to increase.
The suffering that the Black Death brought with it also created a wave of paranoia and despair among Europeans. Many looked for divine expiation for their woes, resulting in a rise in witch trials as many looked for any explanation or scapegoat for their new reality.
Legacy of the Black Death
A tragedy of massive proportions, the Black Death left a wake of destruction and cultural instability in its wake, subsequently leading to many of the cultural changes in Europe. A monumental event in human history, the Black Death has since been commemorated through the work of writers, poets and visual artists.
Though we may never truly understand the effects of the plague, it is absolutely clear that the world had been irrevocably changed by it. The Black Death and its attendant tragedy had left an indelible mark in the pages of history, for as much devastation as it brought, it also served to bring about a variety of changes, from social to economic.
References
- Godsell, J. (2016). The Plague. Retrieved April 16, 2021, from HistoryExtra website
- BBC. (2021). The medieval world: The Black Death. Retrieved April 16, 2021, from BBC website
- Shah, M. (2020). What we know about the Black Death, the most devastating pandemic in history. Retrieved April 16, 2021, from World Economic Forum website