The Black Death

The Black Death

The Black Death is one of the most lethal disease out breaks in history. The Black Death's widespread terror accounted for nearly one third of the deaths in Europe. The plague brought about a great depression that was felt throughout Europe. The Great Plague brought out the worst in people during these struggling times. There were severe shortages of labor created from the Black Death. Rioting spread throughout the Europe during these difficult times. The Great Mortality gave rise to the middle class. Positive aspects also came from the effects of the Black Death. This devastation was the end for many and a new beginning for others. The catastrophic effects of the Black Death brought down the Middle Ages and gave birth to the Renaissance.

The Black Death was a devastating plague that attacked the European and Asian continents in the middle of the 1300's; it caused a large decrease in European population, killing, millions. It attacked and mostly killed people in three different forms Bubonic, Pneumonic and Septicaemic forms; the latter being more dangerous. The Black Death might have not been so devastating if it had not been so easily transported through the continent. It is thought to have started in China in the early 1330's and from there it is said to have gone along the Silk Road trade route traveling with merchants eventually reaching the Black Sea and the Mediterranean region. The Black Sea was a major trading post and when merchant ships traveled from there to Italy, they brought with them the Black Death.

The symptoms of the Black Death were terrible and swift. For example, painful swellings. These swellings would appear in the armpits, legs, neck, or groin. Other symptoms of the Black Death included a very high fever, delirium, the victim begins to vomit, muscular pains, bleeding in the lungs, and mental disorientation. The plague also produced in the victim an intense desire to sleep, which quickly proved fatal. A victim would die quickly. Victims only lived between 2 -4 days after contracting the deadly disease.

The Black Death victims in the Middle Ages were terrified of the deadly disease. The plague held a massive mortality rate between 30 and 40%. Victims had no idea what had caused the disease. Neither did the doctors in the Middle Ages. The most that could be done was that various concoctions of herbs might be administered to relieve the symptoms. There was no known cure. Headaches were relieved by rose, lavender, sage and bay. Sickness or nausea was treated with wormwood, mint, and balm. Lung problems were treated with liquorices and comfrey. Vinegar was used as a cleansing agent as it was believed that it would kill disease. But bloodletting was commonly thought to be one of the best ways to treat the plague. The blood that exuded was black, thick and vile smelling with a greenish scum mixed in it.

The Black Death reached England in 1348. Bristol was an important European port and city in England during the Medieval era. It is widely believed that Bristol was the place where the Black Death first reached England. The plague reached England during the summer months between June and August. The Black Death reached London by 1st November 1348. London was a crowded, bustling city with a population of around 70,000. The sanitation in London was poor and living conditions were filthy. The River Thames brought more ships and infection to London which spread to the rest of England. The crowded, dirty living conditions of the English cities led to the rapid spread of the disease. Church records that the actual deaths in