The Black Plague

The black plague, also known as Black Death, caused the death of one third of Europe's population between 1347 and 1350. The disease originated in Asia and spread with a devastating speed. In the sordid cities of medieval Europe, victims typically only lived a few days after the symptoms first appeared. These symptoms included vomiting, diarrhea, and black tumors on the skin.

The black plague not only killed huge amounts of people in cities, but also destroyed law and order and brought an entire civilization to the brink of collapse. The Decameron(1370-71) , the famous work of the writer Giovanni Boccaccio, described the effects of the plague in the flourishing Italian city of Florence:

"In this suffering and misery of our city, the authority of human and divine laws almost disappeared, for, like other men, the ministers and the executors of the law were all dead or sick or shut up with their families, so that no duties were carried out...Every man was therefor able to do as he pleased."

The effect of the black plague on European society were undeniable. Enraged Christians blamed Jews for the outbreak and proceeded with pogroms that were among the worst outbreaks of anti-Semitism in history.

The black plague also caused many Europeans to question the teachings of the Catholic Church and the existing political setup. How could God allow such a disaster? Some disillusioned Europeans turned to the flaggellants, a fringe sect named for their practice of whipping themselves. Respect for the church thus declined. Many historians is of the opinion that the black plague destroyed the old feudal system of the Middle Ages and brought about the Renaissance.

Interesting facts:

1. Scientists are still not sure about the cause of the black plague. The leading theory is that it is the bubonic plague which still exists today, but it can easily be treated with antibiotics.
2. Almost everyone who was exposed to the plague in the Middle Ages died, but about 5 percent survived, and some people avoided catching the disease entirely. It is believed by scientists that they were protected by a rare genetic combination which gave them stronger resistance to the germ.
3. It took four centuries for Europe's population to rebound to its pre-1347 levels after the Black Death.

Source: The Intellectual Devotional