Its all about that plague!

Interesting facts about the plague/black death, the most feared disease of the ancient/medieval worlds.

~The plague a.k.a. black death was a terrible disease that spread throughout Europe from around 1347 until 1350.  Unfortunately, there was no cure for this terrible disease.  The plague was highly contagious and rarely did anyone with the plague survive it.

Skeletal remains near
the Tower of London

~Many believed that the plague was a punishment from God. (superstitions)

~Others believed that somehow pockets of bad air released during earthquakes was the case.

~Another notion was that the Jewish people were to blame.

~Symptoms included headache, vomiting, fever, swelling, pain, coughing up blood, and black spots on the legs, armpits, and chest.

~There was no cure for this rampant disease.  Oddly enough, people can still get this disease today but fortunately an antibiotic will take care of it.

~The origins of the plague are said to be from Asia with a westward movement along the Silk Road.  It is believed that the disease came from fleas that lived on rats that were living in the European merchant ships.

~By the time the disease had run its course, more than 200 million of the people in Europe were dead.  In France alone the estimation is over 800 people each day.

~Everyone was in such a panic, people would lock their doors and hide.

~There was no stopping the plague because rats were everywhere and the fleas were on the rats.  In an attempt to stop the plague, entire villages were burned down.

~It is estimated that it took the better of 150 years to rebuild Europe.

~The majority of folks wanted nothing to do with anyone that was sick.  In some instances, bodies of plague victims were catapulted over walls to infect enemies.  The only people who would see victims of the plague were doctors.  The brave docs would wear a mask with a nose which was around six

inches long and shaped like a beak.  Two air holes on either side were filled with aromatic substances to protect bad air from getting inside.  They would don a long coat, wear boots, pants, short-sleeved shirts, and protective gear over their eyes.

So that is the short version of the plague.  Check out the great links below for more plague-learning-fun!

My other blog posts regarding the middle ages, Medieval times, a few more.
History Channel-video, the coroner's report.
Mr. Donn