The Great Famine And Black Death In The 14th Century

As most people well know the The Great Famine and Black Death were great tragedies that affected the people of the 14th century. Both events were natural disasters that lead to millions of deaths and sicknesses. The Great Famine was the first of these natural disasters beginning in 1315 lasting two years until 1317 (Nelson, 2011). The spread of the Black Death followed years later in 1346 lasting until 1351 (Nelson, 2011). Both of these events lead to the people of Europe to question their lifestyles, religious believes, and everyday actions. Europe began experiencing hardships during the 14th century beginning with the Great Famine in 1315. Europe was undergoing an excessive increase in population, the population began to increase so rapidly

Unfortunately, what they did not know what that their worst fears were yet to come. Twenty-nine years later, another natural disaster was just about to begin, which would spread a fatal bacterial disease worldwide. The Black Death of 1346 was an event that occurred which was even worse than the Great Famine. According to Nelson the author of, “The Great Famine (1315–1317) and the Black Death (1346–1351)”, he states that the Black Death had rose in Asia and was brought to Europe on a trade ship across the Black Sea. Not only did the plague spread to Europe but it spread along the entire trade route that reached and destroyed many different cities and towns. It was told that the Mongols were the ones who are responsible for the spread of the plague (Nelson, 2011). It began when the Mongol leader took individuals who were sick with the plague aboard his ship and that is how the plague was carried on to others, which in turn was spread along the trade routes (Nelson, 2011). It was not known then but we now know how the plague was indeed spread. Primarily the main cause was a disease that was carried from rats and fleas called, Yersinia Pestis (Nelson, 2011). The way the disease was spread was through this sequence, “the bacteria would block the ‘throat’ of an infected flea so that no blood could reach its stomach… It would

The plague separated people, doctors would not help the sick, guardians were abandoning their children, husbands and wives were leaving each other, even priests would not listen to people’s confessions, it was a mad house (Kreis, 2014). There were many consequences which occurred after the plague in 1351. Many people began to question their way of living and had new outlooks on life and death (Nelson, 2011). People seemed to have different reactions and their own ways of dealing with the after math of the Black Death. Some people felt that living an exciting life and fulfilling their every need would free them from the burdens of the plague, dancing the night and day away, binge drinking, and socializing with everyone around them about what happened was their way of handling things (EyeWitness to History, 2001). Others seemed to have a completely different way of viewing things. The others created small societies and isolated themselves, they lived moderately and eluded all luxurious activities, as well as having absolutely no discussion of the plague (EyeWitness to History, 2001). Many people during this time wanted answers, yet they did not understand how this disease was being spread, nor did they have the information or knowledge that it was even a disease. Therefore, most people believed that the plague was a “wrath of God”, and the people were