The Impact of the Black Death on Europe: Society and Medicine

1. Introduction

The Black Death is one of the most deadly pandemics in history. People were aware of the term Black Death long before scientists discovered the real cause, but the exact origin never seemed to be a focal point. There are, however, many contemporary accounts that define the period we now refer to as the Black Death. Many of the accounts discuss the symptoms that the people suffered and the procession of the disease. Indeed, some of the records are meticulous in the level of detail they provide about the spread of the disease. The Black Death is thought to have wiped out about 40% of the population of Europe. There is still much debate as to whether the cause of Black Death was natural (for example, a strain of bubonic plague) or a man-made disease such as anthrax. Some scientists expect the Black Death to be in modern day terms an airborne related disease. The aim of this report is to explain the nature of the Black Death and discuss the impact of the Black Death upon medicine. However, it concluded that it is in fact likely that the cause of the Black Death came from a number of different sources including the climate, some of the existing medical conditions and most importantly it was widespread due to the extreme unhygienic living conditions. The real impact of the cause of the Black Death has less to do with what caused it and “more to do with the faults of human societies, which failed to prevent the spread of the Black Death at the time”.

1.1 Definition and Origins of the Black Death

First, the essay will provide an overview of the Black Death, including its definition and origins. This will involve discussing what the Black Death actually was and the different forms it took, as well as framing it in its proper historical context. Then, there will be a focus on the specific origins of the epidemic that first struck Europe in 1347. This will involve a discussion of where and how the Black Death originated and the different routes it took to reach Europe. It may be useful to discuss recent scientific findings in this part of the essay, as researchers continue to debate the different origins and routes of the epidemic. A focus on the historical origins should include a discussion of where and when the Black Death first struck in Europe, as well as the swiftness and devastating impact of the initial outbreak. This part of the essay should make it clear that the Black Death saw many recurrences during the latter half of the 14th century, with an overall impact that varied from place to place. The essay will also note that modern researchers have identified the specific bacterium responsible for the Black Death – Yersinia pestis – and some scientists’ ongoing research into the genetic evolution of this bacterium.

1.2 Spread and Mortality Rates

Yorkshire and the Black Death. Medieval field system near Grassington. Image from the book “Atlas of the Black Death.” Geno and Persac – “The Black Death in the Middle East.” The Black Death proved lethal up until the 18th century. It resurfaced in the 1360s in England where a particularly deadly outbreak occurred in East Anglia and Lincolnshire in 1362 and 1368. The period 1361-2 saw unique protective measures, including a writing down of the medieval version of our national anthem “Aegrotantium” and in York, the recording of a song about Death’s visit to the city in 1361 called “Eboracum.” The song, which describes the plague’s impact on a prominently Jewish quarter, became a symbol of the anti-Semitism that was rife in that period. The last outbreak in England occurred in the early 1670s, where York, London, and many towns in East England were ravaged. This instance infected only 6000 people, but the profundity of such a deadly outbreak after many years of silence points not only to the continuity of the Black Death within English living agendas but also to the realization that in such a series of pandemics, any particular outbreak could potentially be the one that surpassed all others.Spain and the plague. Campus Cerdanya. Image from the book “Atlas of the Black Death.” The Black Death spread very rapidly, with recorded pandemic outbreaks in several instances. It is likely that the pandemic initially spread from Asia, moving westward with armies and trade routes. It reached the Crimea in 1346 and alighted in Sicily, Genoa, and Venice in the same year. A year later, it had made its way through France and southwest England and was even recorded in Norway. 1348 saw the arrival of Black Death in Spain, and the plague lasted until 1380, claiming over 6 million lives – as much as 60% of the population in that time.

2. Devastating Impact on Europe

2.1 Economic Consequences

2.2 Social Disruption

2.3 Political Instability

3. Reshaping of Society

3.1 Decline of Feudalism

3.2 Labor Shortages and Peasant Revolts

3.3 Shift in Power Dynamics

4. Reshaping of Medicine

4.1 Traditional Medical Practices

4.2 Emergence of Plague Treatments

4.3 Influence on Medical Education

5. Long-Term Effects

5.1 Population Decline and Demographic Changes

5.2 Psychological Impact and Cultural Shifts

5.3 Legacy of the Black Death

6. Conclusion