The Causes And Effects Of The Black Death

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Moments of impact change people’s lives. The Black Death had an extensive impact on the European society. It caused mass changes in the economy, religion, and people’s character. The Black Death arrived in Italy in 1348 and it spread rapidly from the peninsula across Europe. It killed about half the population of Europe. The Black Death was associated with three types of plague, which were all caused by Yersinia Pestis. The bubonic plague had a mortality rate of 80 percent. It was “spread through the bite of a flea” (The Black Death, 23). The most noticeable symptom is swelling of the lymph nodes. After the outbreak of the symptoms, death would occur within three to six days. Yet, ten to forty percent of people affected by the bubonic plague would recover. The second type was the pneumonic plague and it had a mortality rate of 90% to 95%. The pneumonic plague it is transferred by “respiratory fluids” (The Black Death, 23). The plague kills its victims in a period of two to three days. The third type is the septicemic plague and it had a mortality rate of nearly 100%. This plague “spread through a direct invasion or poisoning of the blood” (The Black Death, …show more content…

Most Christians believed God generated the Black Death because of a “sinful humanity” (The Black Death, 94). They asked God for mercy. People associated arrows with the plague. They believed God, angels, or demons, either hurtled spears or shot arrows at towns or people with the intention to infect them with the plague. People also questioned the ability of the church. The priesthood was blamed “for failing to administer to the needs of parishioners during the Black Death, including hearing confession and giving last rites” (The Black Death, 94). In fear of being infected and also desiring higher salaries , priest went to work at private chapels and chantries and other private services. As a result, people felt betrayed by the

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