The Black Plague Early 1340's

Words: 2059
Pages: 9
Open Document
The Black Plague
In the early 1340’s, The Black Plague swept Europe in a massive epidemic that killed an estimated 100 million people. The disease, named after the black sores a victim would get after contracting the disease, tested the medical community that was already scarce at the time. The immigration of the Black Plague changed perceptions on disease prevention and treatment. While the disease was active, it spread through Europe and Asia. Also, everyone had their opinion on how to properly treat the disease, which made for many different treatment options. Finally, the way the public reacted to all of these aspects of the disease helped us to advance in disease prevention and treatment.
The plague started in China in the early 1330’s, …show more content…
The plague did not stop completely, but the number of deaths started to lessen. It is not known why the number of cases and deaths subsided at this time, but a theory of why it happened was the institution of quarantine. During this time, if a person was infected, they would have them stay in their homes and not come in contact with anyone. This helped to keep the disease in a controlled area and limit the amount of people the victim had contact with.
Another theory is that people decided to practice better hygiene. Before the plague was in Europe, they regularly drank contaminated water and did not bathe as often as we do now. When the plague came, they realized that if they were clean they were more likely not to get infected. This resulted in people boiling their water and washing their hands and bodies more often. This helped to control the spreading of the plague by washing off bacteria.
Although bacteria wasn’t something that the people living in that time knew about, noticing that cleanliness aided in the fight to not get sick was something that helped in the fight to prevent future outbreaks. They learned that keeping the infected people away from those who were healthy gave the healthy a better chance of not contracting the disease from another person. This aided in not having new people contract the disease and having the plague reach more …show more content…
The Bubonic Plague was a strain that people and animals would contract through flea and rat bites. This strain of the plague wasn’t spread by those who contracted it. This is also the disease believed to start the plague. Those who caught the plague would develop swelling of the lymph glands nearest to where they were bit- usually under the arm or near the groin. These swollen glands, called Buboes, could swell to the size of apples.
The bubonic plague, if left untreated, led to the Septicemic Plague. This form of the plague usually took over the body after the bubonic plague. This would lead to parts of the body, usually the hands and feet, turning black and dying.
If the plague reached the lungs of the victim, it caused the Pneumonic Plague. This form of the plague was much easier to spread, because the disease was airborne. Also, the people who became infected with this strain of the disease did not get the lymph swelling that the bubonic strain caused. Also, this form had the added symptom of sneezing and coughing, which aided in the spreading of the
Show More

Related Documents: The Black Plague Early 1340's

The Black Death: The Plague Of Justinian

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…

Words 666 - Pages 3

How Did The Bubonic Plague Affect Society

The Bubonic Plague (also known as the Black Death) is an epidemic that attacked the Medieval Europe severely during the 1340’s. Its full results were noticed in 1347, causing a significant depreciation in the population of Europe. More than 20 million people died from being affected by the plague. The Bubonic Plague became a terror for these people as they believed that the world was at its end. Although the disease allowed some positive changes in the Medieval society, its negative impacts continued…

Words 903 - Pages 4

Essay about MEDIEVAL TRADE AND PESTILENCE

12 November 2014 University of Alabama in Huntsville Kenneth B. Moore, Instructor MEDIEVAL TRADE AND PESTILENCE: A LOVE STORY With the claiming the lives of tens of millions of people and changing the western world socially and economically, the Black Plague is said to have been one of the most successful and deadly pandemics to have happened in history. It is said to have killed up to fifty percent of the entire European population (between 25 and 30 million) between 1348 and 1400.1 The exact cause…

Words 1581 - Pages 7

Disease: The Black Death

experienced due to the exposure of the Spanish settlers and Typhoid fever in the early 1800s within the United States. There are several examples of how various diseases test the strength of humanity itself, and by following natural selection, founded by Charles Darwin, we are able to conclude that every epidemic targets the vulnerable and beings that are not strong. The Black Death is an excellent example…

Words 2229 - Pages 9

Time Of The Dark Ages Course Outline Chacon 2 2 Essay

that they were much greater to their ancestors and began using this term to scorn an era that they found to be very difficult to survive in. The Dark Ages can be referred to the entire time of the Middle Ages from 500-1500 A.D. or mostly for the early Middle Ages from 500-1000 A.D (Curtis, 1992) (O'Sullivan, 2012). It is also commonly referred to the period of time that accompanied the fall of the Western Roman Empire. When the Western Roman Empire was destroyed, unknowingly many people were…

Words 1572 - Pages 7