Describe the Black Plague and how it affected Europe - Essay Example

The Black Plague and how it affected Europe The Black Plague was a disastrous pandemic in the history of humans that was at its peak in Europe between 1347 and 1350. A type of bacteria called Yersinia pestis caused it (Senker 8). It was believed to have begun in Mongolia or Central Asia and reached Crimea in 1346. The plague was from there spread by fleas on black rats that were invading merchant ships going to Europe and the Mediterranean. It is important to note that there were three types of the Black Plague: pneumonic plague, septicemic plague, and bubonic plague.

The pandemic was huge and had far-reaching effects in Europe (Cohn 703). This paper will describe further the Black Plague, the way in which it spread, and how it affected Europe. It is believe that the Black Plague that spread to Europe first broke out in China in the early 1330s. Although the plague largely affects rodents, it can be transmitted to humans through fleas. Once humans are infected, other humans can rapidly and easily be infected (Zahler 25). Considering that China was among the busiest nations in the world trade at the time, it took a short time for the outbreak of the plague in the country to spread to Europe and Western Asia.

It is believed that Black Plague was spread to Europe in 1347; in October of 1347, a number of Italian merchant ships went to Italy from a trip to the Black Sea, which was an important trade link with China (Cohn 710). When the ships docked in the City of Sicily in Italy, many of those on board were already infected with Black Plague and were dying of the disease. After a few days, the disease had spread within the city, as well as the surrounding countryside. The disease struck and led to the death of many people in Italy at a rapid speed.

By the following August, the disease had spread as far as Northern England. This terrible killer became loose around Europe and the medicines at that time were unable to combat it (Senker 21). The Black Plague affected Europe in a huge way. It led to the death of between thirty and sixty percent of the population in Europe. The implication of this was that Europe lost about seventy to one hundred million people. Historians observe that it took Europe about one hundred and fifty years to regain this proportion of population loss (Cohn 719).

During the time of the plague and even after, the disease prompted Europeans to switch their focus towards death. There were so many people dying at astounding rate and therefore it was difficult for them to see something else. In addition, it led to people isolating themselves from each other because they feared catching the plague. Many of the people made attempts of running from the disease only to realize that it would catch up with them regardless of where they went to (Senker 39). This had serious social effects because it drew people away from each other.

The focus of people towards death at that time was largely reflected in the artworks such as paintings, glass windows, and stone carvings of people infected with the disease dying. It however allowed many people to employ their literary skills that were uncommon at the time. Many people took opportunity of the plague to write their accounts of the pandemic (Zahler 84). Additionally, this pandemic affected Europe’s economic, social, and religious spheres. It disrupted various aspects of these spheres and this had great effects on the course of European history.

The plague killed many poor people and this forced the wealthy landowners to pay the remaining workers what they demanded (Senker 44). There were many consumer goods that were used at the time and this made life better. The pandemic marked the start of the middle class in England and in Europe as a whole. It also affected the religious realm; Christian Church was affected seriously leading to increased harassment of minorities such as foreigners, beggars, and Jews. Besides, since daily survival was not certain, there was a constant morbid mood among people, thereby motivating people to live for the moment (Cohn 736).

Conclusion The fact that the Black Plague seriously affected Europe cannot be disputed. This devastating pandemic that ravaged Europe wiped out a considerable percentage of the continent’s population. Moreover, its effects were important in shaping various aspects of the European society. For example, it saw the emergence of the middle class as it ended the feudal system. It also altered the relationship that the citizens had with the Church at the time. All these effects together made Europe to become more advanced, economically and socially.

Works Cited Cohn, Samuel K. (2002). The Black Death: End of a Paradigm. American Historical Review, vol 107, 3, pg. 703–737 Senker, Cath. The Black Death 1347-1350: The Plague Spreads Across Europe. Chicago, Ill: Raintree, 2006. Print. Zahler, Diane. The Black Death. Minneapolis: Twenty-First Century Books, 2009. Print.