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Black Death

The medieval devastating disease started in 1347 and continued for many years. This disease almost wiped-out one fourth of the population in Europe; this disease was called the “Black Death”. The Black Death manifested in Asia where it also destroyed a large number of the population. It made its way to Europe through a trading route between Asia and Europe, it first arrived in Sicily. This disease traveled through germs carried by fleas and rats. This germ was in black rats’ blood, and the fleas would bite the rats and become infected. Due to the disease the churches began to struggle with attendance; the people believe this was some how a curse from God, doctors were of little help in fighting off the disease they tried arsenic, moon wart, valerian roots, and brimstones with no success. A rhyme developed from the disease---“ring around the rosie a pocket full of posie ashes, ashes, ashes we all fall down”. Some Europeans believe they could escape the disease by eating fine meats, fine wines, and keeping their thoughts pure. Residents would leave their homes and farms due to infestation of rats, which made it hard for landlords to collect rent. The Black Death created lesion on people’s skin and because a lot of wool was worn in those times it caused people to develop a skin disease. This disease was so deadly people would usually die 4 or 5 days after being infected. The plague lasted for approximately 500 years until scientists invented the microscope and was able to see the germ and kill it. Unfortunately, millions of people died before a cure was developed.