Pneumonic Plague: The Black Death In England

An important topic is being discussed and it concerns the Black Death in England. “The Black Death is the name given to a deadly plague (often called bubonic plague, but is more likely to be pneumonic plague) which was rampant during the Fourteenth Century. It was believed to have arrived from Asia in late 1348 and caused more than one epidemic in that century – though its impact on English society from 1348 to 1350 was terrible. No amount of medical knowledge could help England when the plague struck. It also had a major impact on England’s social structure which lead to the Peasants Revolt of 1381.” (History Learning). “The first outbreak of the plague swept across England in 1348 to 1349. It seems to have travelled across the south in bubonic
After the Black Death workers asked for higher pay and better working conditions. As a result, many Lords agreed to pay more and improve conditions. Eventually, the Lords realized that they had less control over workers, and started raising sheep’s as an alternative to paying high wages. As a result, this change in farming led to a boost in the cloth and woolen industry .As their income rose, peasant became free to move away from their Lords estates, and buy property of their
“Prior to the Plague, the Church, ruled by the Pope, was the sole guardian of religious thought and theology, dispensing information, blessings and curses as it saw fit. The general population had no access to the bible or scripture except that which was meted out by the priests and clergy. Anyone who questioned the teachings of the Church was denounced, excommunicated and sometimes burned at the stake” (The Impact). “The Black Death set the stage for more modern medicine and spurred changes in public health and hospital management. Frustrated with Black Death diagnoses that revolved around astrology and superstition, educators began placing greater emphasis on clinical medicine, based on physical science” (Effects of the Black Death). People grew tired of going to the church for help, when the church had no answers to their problem. “When the plague arrived, people believed it was a punishment of God. Therefore, they often turned to the Church for help. But since the priests and bishops could not actually offer a cure or even an explanation, the Catholic Church lost a lot of its influence and for many people, their view of the world changed drastically” (The Black Death). As a result, many of the clergy got sick and died. However, those that did not get sick, abandoned their post. ‘“With fewer priests, and quicker deaths, Pope Clement VI was forced to grant remission of sins to all who died of the