The Black Death Plague

The Black Death Plague

The Black Death plague, also known as the Bubonic plague, attacked Europe in 1347. The Bubonic plague was one of the many pestilences that would attack almost the entire Eastern Hemisphere. The last plague attacked a European city, Marseilles in 1722. On 1347, the name “Black Death”, or the “Bubonic Plague” was not used. During that time, they called the plague the Pestilence, or the Great Mortality. As we can see, the Black Death Plague has been in existence for about 650 years, and many are still unsure of the origin of this deadly plague.

There are several explanations on the origins of the Black Death Plague. The first is from medieval writers who believe that it began in China because they considered China to be a land of magical events. Others thought that it originated from earthquakes and fire. However we all know that these explanations are just myths. But many historians agree that the deadly disease originated from infected rodents that migrated from the Middle East to the area between the Black and Caspian seas. The plague was then spread onto merchants traveling the west trade routes (the approximate date given is about 1347). Then the disease passed from the merchants to Italian towns along the Black Sea. The “Black Death” plague moved quickly along other trade routes. However, through quarantine, parts of Europe were saved from the disease.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Black Death plague was not as bad as the first time it appeared. Doctors and investigators began to notice patterns on when the plague was the most active and when it was “dormant”. They found out that the plague was strongest in the summer, absent in the winter. Investigators also noticed that the plague was most popular among the poorest, crowded cities. Therefore the governments set up a system of quarantining and treating people that were infected.

By the 16 century quarantines were a part of life. Towns began investigating anything suspicious. Travelers were expected to carry certificates of health proving that they have not been exposed to the deadly disease. Toward the end of the 16 century it was impossible to move out of quarantined areas. Starting in the late17th century, the countries of Europe created a boundary between Europe and the lands where the Black Death plague came from. Anyone who tried to cross the boundary without permission, were shot. From that time on, there were less and less cases of the plague. By early 18th century the plague disappeared. There are many theories on how the plague disappeared, the fact is, it vanished because of the strong laws that demanded quarantines on all infected people.

I loved doing this report on the Black Death plague. I did not know much about it until this report. I am so thankful that I did not have to live during the 15th, 16th centuries. I probably would have been dead by now, considering what I have went through. I believe that many good things came as a result of the Black Death plague. First of all, it motivated doctors to improve their medicines and medical practice. It also motivated people to turn to God and pray for safety from such diseases. If it wasn’t for the Black Death plague and many other plagues, we would not have such good reliable doctors and medicine that we have now.