The Black Death: The Plague Of Justinian

Words: 666
Pages: 3
Open Document
ORIGIN
The Black Death arrived in Europe by sea in October 1347 when 12 Genoese trading ships docked at the Sicilian port of Messina after a long journey through the Black Sea. Most of the sailors aboard, was dead and those who were alive were extremely ill. Blood and pus seeped out of these strange black boils, which were followed by a host of other unpleasant symptoms–fever, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, terrible aches and pains–and then, in short order, death. The Sicilian authorities demanded the "death ships" out of the harbor but it was too late. Over the next five years, the Black Death killed almost 1/3 of the population in Europe, more than 200 million people. Unfortunately, nothing prepared Europe for the Black Death. Those who were …show more content…
Back then, rats used to live among us.
Some medieval doctors believed bad smells would drive away the plague, and treated their patients with feces and urine. Needless to say, this did more harm than good.
After the plague, it took Europe's population 150 years to recover.
Bathing was discouraged during the plague because people thought it opened the pores of the disease. The Black Death wasn't Europe's first plague. The Plague of Justinian occurred in the 6th century, but killed a mere 50 million people.
Because death was so prevalent, the European people became obsessed about it and about salvation. They thought that perhaps God was punishing them for their sins, and marched around in these processions carrying huge heavy crosses on their backs or whipping themselves to repent. A lot of serfs, or peasants, died, and therefore the general power of the serf over his Lord was increased. Serfs became to have a lot more freedom because of the shortage of labor, and they were able to demand more, and even obtain their freedom. They lost their faith in …show more content…
Breaking out in ‘the east’, as medieval people put it, it came north and west after striking the eastern Mediterranean and Italy, Spain and France. It then came to Britain, where it struck Dorset and Hampshire along the south coast of England simultaneously. It then spread north and east, then on to Scandinavia and Russia.
SYMPTOMS
Before: They were perfectly healthy. The symptoms upon receiving the Bubonic plague include painful and enlarged lymph nodes, chills, headache, fever, and weakness.
During: Septicemic plague (Black Death or Black Plague) symptoms and signs include fever, weakness, abdominal pain, chills, and shock. People who are bitten by infected fleas generally develop the bubonic form of the plague. However, if the bacteria reaches the lungs, it can develop into pneumonic plague and can be spread via person to person by coughing. Tissue bleeding and death may cause the dying tissues to appear black.
After: A corpse could not transmit the disease to another living being unless that person had been in contact with a lymph node, respiratory tissue or bodily secretion soon after the death.
CURES
Cooked
Show More

Related Documents: The Black Death: The Plague Of Justinian

Yersinia pestis Essay

541 A.D., a plague known as the Plague of Justinian named after the Byzantine emperor is the first Black Plague. This plague wiped out millions of people throughout Eastern Roman/Byzantine region, which is called Istanbul today. Then between 1347 and 1351 the well-known Black Plague, also called the Black Death, is the most devastating pandemic in our history. It was estimated that tens of millions of people dies in Europe during this time. It is said that the cause of both plagues was linked to…

Words 353 - Pages 2

The Great Plague: The Black Death

The reactions from the Christians and the Muslims to the greatly feared disease, known as the Black Death or the Great Plague were alike in several ways. The first Plague was documented from 541 to 544 CE. Known as the Plague of Justinian. The Plague came in three different ways: bubonic, pneumonic, and septicemic. With bubonic being the most common. The Black Death was caused by various reasons, non-religious and religious. The disease in Europe, was said to be caused by, miasma (impure air) carried…

Words 156 - Pages 1

The Black Death Plague Essay

Intro to Anthropology Catherine Long 23 October 2014 The Black Death A study done by Sharon DeWitte uncovered clues on the survivors of the 14th century Black Death medieval plague. The study suggests that the people whom survived the plague actually ended up living significantly longer and healthier lives than the people who lived before this epidemic in 1347. The Black Death plague was caused by a bacteria known as Yersinia pestis. The plague cleared out promptly 30 percent of Europeans and almost…

Words 658 - Pages 3

LITR201 PROJECT2 2 Essay

THE PLAGUE GROUP A: (DNOSHA, KATHRINE, DELORIS) THE BLACK DEATH The first sign of the Plague which is, also known as the “Black Death” occurred in 1347 in Europe. The Plague was so catastrophic in a three year span it was able to whip out a third of the country. This event became such an interesting topic due to the decimating population going into the late middle ages. The Plague was so deadly it was able to change the European KNOWN FIGURES “The artistic expression at the time mirrored people’s…

Words 539 - Pages 3

The Black Death Essay

Cameron Sykora Sykora1 History 121 11/21/13 The Black Death The Black Death one of the most deadly epidemics that ever hit the whole population in Eastern Europe but most people don’t know what it is. Many different attributes went into why this disease took so long to eradicate from the continent and from the whole world. The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, killing an estimated 75 to 200 million people and peaking in Europe in the years 1348–50…

Words 1265 - Pages 6

black death Essay

The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 75 to 200 million people and peaking in Europe in the years 1346–53.[1][2][3] Although there were several competing theories as to the etiology of the Black Death, analysis of DNA from victims in northern and southern Europe published in 2010 and 2011 indicates that the pathogen responsible was the Yersinia pestis bacterium, probably causing several forms of plague.[4][5] The Black…

Words 2318 - Pages 10

The History Of European Women

The History of European Women-Lesson 1 January 17-22, 2012 Week 1: Introductions Read Chapter 1-4 (Becoming Visible): Reflect on what you have learned from the chapters. Share with the class what you have learned from the chapter’s readings, about yourself, and any insights which you though perked your interest. Discussion Questions: Women of Ancient Egypt made it to the top position as Pharaoh. Compare women of those troubled times to women who have to face the trials today…such as no health…

Words 1757 - Pages 8

Essay about Islam and Empress Wu Zhao

clean air and the danger of germs; for mathematics the first Algebra text book and for astronomy, better optics, and charting the stars. Review Terms/Questions (Ch 11) What is the Justinian Code? (302) The Justinian Code was the modification and updating of old Roman laws that no longer worked well. Emperor Justinian and some scholars went through all the Roman laws and updated them to apply to the present day society of the old empire. Why did the Christian church split into two different forms…

Words 1444 - Pages 6

History Key Terms 2 Essay

of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire. Second Triumvirate= A coalition formed by Antony, Lepidus, and Octavian. Octavian (Emperor Augustus)= Was the founder of the Roman Empire and its first Emperor, ruling from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD. He was born Gaius Octavius into an old and wealthy equestrian branch of the plebeian Octavii family. Title Augustus= Was an ancient Roman title given as both name and title to Gaius Octavius; Rome's first Emperor. Virgil= Was an ancient…

Words 2376 - Pages 10

Essay about Study Terms

HIST 137: World Civilization to 1648 Chapter 1: The Earliest Human Societies Hominid Family Paleolithic Era Neolithic Era Pleistocene Epoch Australopithecus * Homo Habilis * Homo Erectus Homo Sapiens: Origins Homo Sapiens: Brain Size Neanderthals * Homo Sapiens: Migration Endogamy Foragers Division of Labor Paleolithic Family and Kinship Animism * Shamans * Venus Figurines Agricultural Revolution Fertile Crescent * Selective Breeding Pastoralism * Plow Agriculture Occupational…

Words 1344 - Pages 6