In the Wake of the Plague - Black Death Essay examples

Norman F. Cantor, In the Wake of the Plague (New York: Harper Collins First Perennial edition, 2001) examines how the bubonic plague, or Black Death, affected Europe in the fourteenth century. Cantor recounts specific events in the time leading up to the plague, during the plague, and in the aftermath of the plague. He wrote the book to relate the experiences of victims and survivors and to illustrate the impact that the plague had on the government, families, religion, the social structure, and art. To illustrate some of the political upheaval due to the Black Death, a good example Cantor uses is the story of the Plantagenets. If the Black Death had not killed so many peasants who made up the army, the Plantagenets may have become†¦show more content†¦57). Cantor details how the plague changed social structure. The plague killed so many peasants that the remaining peasants were demanding lower rents and higher wages. There was a peasant revolt in 1381 which almost eliminated the royal government. Richard II had some of the peasant leaders killed, and the revolt was shut down. The result was a further divide between the classes. Wealthier peasants were able to take advantage of the social dislocation caused by the plague, and poorer peasants sank further into dependence and misery (p. 90-91). Peasants had formerly identified their place in society by who their lord was. Now that their world of feudalism was vanishing, they felt displaced, confused and anxious (p. 100). Violence, drunkenness, and physical accidents were prevalent (p. 95). Cantor highlights some of the effects that the Black Death had on religion. The plague had a huge impact on the church because almost forty percent of parish clergy had died from the plague. The change was made to ordain priests at age twenty instead of twenty five, and a priest could take over a church at age twenty. Fifteen-year-olds could receive monastic vows, instead of having to wait until they were twenty. These were undereducated and inexperienced people (p. 206) and this indirectly contributed to the spread of the Lollards, who were radical heretics (p.207) The Lollards attacked the morality of the church, and theShow MoreRelatedNorman F. Cantor s The Black Plague978 Words   |  4 Pageswith the medieval period. In the beginning of this book, Cantor begins to describe how the black plague began and the symptoms of the black plague. The black plague was also known as the Black Death. Many have their own thoughts about how the plague started, but Cantor explains his thoughts throughout the first section of this book. According to Cantor, the plague started from a tiny flea. The black plague is thought to have started in Asia and spread through trade. Shipyards were filthy during theRead MoreEssay about The Black Death1660 Words   |  7 Pagesperiod of time. One example of a pandemic is the Black Death. It swept through Europe in the 14th century, killing an estimated 75 million people and causing the collapse of the Feudal system. The Black Death is considered one of the deadliest pandemics in history because of the speed of its spread, the death toll, and the lasting effects it had on humanity. The speed at which the plague came about was a major factor in its lethality. The plague is believed to have originated in central Asia inRead MoreEssay about The Black Death669 Words   |  3 PagesThe Black Death The Black Death was undoubtedly one of the most devastating diseases that occurred during the middle ages. The Black Death, also known as the Bubonic Plague, was a world-wide epidemic that caused the death of more than 20 million people throughout Europe (Velenzdas). The people of this time period were clueless as to the cause of the plague, but were well aware of the tell-tale symptoms that accompanied infection. There were many cures for the outbreaksRead MoreIs Yersinia Pestis A Bacterial Infection Responsible For The Deaths Of Millions Of People?976 Words   |  4 Pagesinfection responsible for the deaths of millions of people starting in the 1300’s and still continues to infect people to this day. This bacterial strain is the basis of three very serious and potentially fatal diseases: the Bubonic plague, the Pneumonic Plague, and the septicemic Plague. The difference between the plagues is primarily the location of the infection but the symptoms also vary as well. The bubonic plague attacks the Lymphatic system whereas the Pneumonic plague focuses the respiratory systemRead MoreBlack Death Essay1007 Words   |  5 Pageshard, painful, burning lumps on their neck, under their arms, on their inner thighs. Soon they turned black, split open, and began to ooze pus and blood. They may have grown to the size of an orange. These are the symptoms of the Black Death, one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. It is widely thought to have been an outbreak of bubonic plague, and during those dark times, it is estimated to have killed 30% – 60% of Europes population, reducingRead MoreThe Black Plague in Great Britain838 Words   |  3 Pagesand castles, royals and peasants, plague and famine, war and death. In the 1300’s a devastating plague swept across of most of Europe and Asia. It killed millions of people. Upon reaching Britain it killed over one-third the population. The Black Death, in only a few years, had left a permanent mark on Britain, its economy, the feudalism system and its culture through the cause of the major population decline in the 14th century. The Black Plague or Black Death is believed to have begun near ChinaRead MoreThe Black Death Essay1196 Words   |  5 Pagescircle and then falling down. The nursery rhyme refers to the Black Death, one of the worst plagues of all time (Schladweller). Known as infectious diseases that spread quickly and kill countless people, plagues have had a tremendous affect on people around the world since the beginning of time. The Black Death, also known as the bubonic plague, is a contagious bacterial infection that has killed millions of people. With the bubonic plague brutally killing one fourth of Europe in the 14th century andRead More The Plague - The Black Death Essay1429 Words   |  6 PagesThe Black Death The Black Death is known as the worst natural disaster in European history. The plague spread throughout Europe from 1346-1352. Those who survived lived in constant fear of the plagues return and it did not disappear until the 1600s. Not only were the effects devastating at the time of infection, but during the aftermath as well. The Black Death of the fourteenth century dramatically altered Europes social and economic structure. The plague was spread by fleasRead MoreThe Myth Of Fourteenth Century Europe845 Words   |  4 PagesDuring a period within fourteenth century Europe, a pestilence known as the bubonic plague swept across eastern Asia and into England via trade, leaving millions dead in its wake. The Black Plague arrived at a time of war and famine in Europe, only further devastating the lives of medieval citizens. Religiously, socially, and politically, there were no immediate changes from the Black Plague, however, a Catholic schism, the ability for social mobility, and standing armies would develop in the followingRead MoreThe Black Death Ravaged Europe And Its Inhabitants1588 Words   |  7 PagesFrom 1347 to about 1352, the Black Death ravaged Europe and its inhabitants. While this devastating plague caused an exorbitant loss of life and a great deal of emotional suffering, it did lead to some major social changes in Europe that changed the course of history. The Black Death transformed the c onsciousness of the surviving populous of medieval Europe in a way no other event that has occurred before or since could. This transformed psyche created the catalyst that expedited the transformation