Maya CJ Alas

ARTIFACT 2: PLAGUE

 

Throughout history, there have been countless diseases that have contributed immensely to the death rate of massive amounts of people. Such effect can even result in eradicating entire populations of a certain peoples. When individuals ponder the specifics of diseases that have fostered such high casualties, there is one that historians and biologists alike refer to, the plague. The plague caused such an immense amount of damage during its height, that most of the world’s population today is aware of its existence throughout history and the effects it had on society as a whole. Although, the plague carries such a negative and heavy burden, with time and analysis of its effects, it is certain that there were definitely positive developments within the realm of disease and disease control that would benefit society to this day.

The plague, although in already in existence, was able to spread so rapidly and across far lands because of multiple societal factors during the time. With individuals in constant war over land and traveling to other countries in harsh conditions, immune systems were weakened and the plague was able to spread across lands and to through individuals who didn’t have the strength to combat its effects. In addition to war, trade and trade routes, although positive in their efficiency to pass goods from one place to another, also passed the plague along to different locations with ease as well. With individuals living in larger close-knit communities, agricultural farming became a prevalent practice within societies of the time. Although beneficial to the food supply and the economy, farming also aided in the virulence of the plague. This is because, farmers used fertilizer and night soil that was primarily made up of animal feces. Such disease-ridden feces, would often contaminate the water supply which would lead to entire cities being infected with the plague.

As a result of such massive populations of people dying, the social implications that resulted from the plague were immensely prevalent and often times, unfortunate for those effected by it. As individuals became fearful that they or individuals they loved would be the next victim to the plague, they went through extreme lengths to avoid the disease at all costs. Individuals would often leave themselves or loved in quarantine to die. They would ration out their food but would ultimately have little to no contact with individuals infected, with hopes that they’d survive, but knowing death was inevitable. Individuals would go as far as to lock their loved ones with other disease-ridden individuals, as to avoid the spread of their sickness. In addition to families quarantining themselves and others, whole cities would provide cordon sanitaires, in which buffer zones and lines would be provided to limit the amount of contact individuals had amongst each other and to inform individuals of the most effected areas. Such measures put huge strains on individuals’ personal freedoms and their way of life. At a time, when advancements and developments were being made, individuals lived in fear that they too would become another statistic.

The plague also contributed to negative social and cultural impacts as the death toll rose and individuals were wrongfully blamed. For example, the rich having the resources to flee to unaffected areas, did so and often left the poor to fin for themselves. This caused societal rifts between those in power and those effected by said power, as the poor felt abandoned by those who had the influence and resources to help them. In addition to the rich, prominent members of the Church, although at first lending their support to those in need, soon became victims themselves, and often times left individuals to their own devices as well. This, as a result, would lead to negative connotations of the Church’s power and influence spiritually and negative connotations of them being a source of help to those in need. In addition to attitudes about important aspects of society changing, the economic and educational system also changed as well. As a result of the high death toll, education became nonexistent as individuals had to focus on more serious matters. The economic system also fell flat as there were no individuals to farm or trade and make money. As much as individuals wanted to blame God or themselves, the Jews were prime targets for individuals to blame as they were ethnically different and easy scapegoats for individuals to connect the spread of the plague to. Such blame became so intense, that the Jews were forced to flee to Poland. Such is why the plague had such a lasting effect on society. Not only did the disease lead to the death of countless lives during its prime, but it also changed the way in which societies functioned culturally, economically, politically, and socially.

 

PLAGUE TODAY:

Although much more prevalent throughout history, there are still cases of plague today. The United States, being a first-world country, is no exception to this. Cases of plague today usually occur within rural areas with a lot of wooded forests where rodents, animals, and fleas are prevalent. Cases within the United States usually occur within the Midwest because hunting in wooded areas is widely practiced. Today, cases of plague are usually transmitted from rodent and fleas to person. Not often do cases get so severe as to spread it among person to person. Usually individuals within environments where the possibility of contracting the plague through rodents or fleas is prevalent, educate themselves on the signs and try to avoid contact with such organisms. In addition, once an individual is known to have contracted the plague, researchers and investigators track the individual’s whereabouts and each individual person and place the infected has contact with as to inform others of possible interaction with the deadly disease. There are highly serious information and protocols sent out to areas and the CDC to ensure that the individual is properly quarantined and subsequently free of the disease after treatment. In places like Madagascar, it is much easier to fall prey to the effects the plague had in the 1400s. In 2009, the plague in Madagascar reached epidemic levels. This is because, Madagascar lacked the resources and knowledge to effectively rid itself of the infectious disease. Being a populated third-world country, hygiene and sanitation would prove a major factor in the spread of the disease at the time. Along with being a very natural land with animals and rodents prevalent throughout that also aided the spread of the disease. Being ill informed, out staffed and out resourced, the plague in Madagascar killed hundreds of people, until the intervention of disease control and WHO was able to step in and combat the effects of the infectious disease.

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Maya CJ Alas

Help Received: Power of the Plagues

ARTIFACT 1

Historical

Throughout the American educational system and other educational systems throughout the world, the plague has always been a huge topic within historical and scientific lesson material. Such emphasis on the plague is apparent since its initial appearance in Europe in the 1300s because of the impact it had on the lives of the individuals infected with it. Individuals often ponder why such disease was able to spread and infect and subsequently kill the lives of so many during its reign within society. It is especially clear in today’s society that there was not just one, but a multitude of societal and cultural factors that contributed to the appearance of plagues throughout history.

When Neanderthals walked and dominated the “society” of their time, life was much different than it is today. Social and cultural factors surrounding their lives were almost non-existent. The Neanderthals were nomadic, which meant, to survive, they roamed the land hunting and gathering until they were done and moved onto the next. For the men and women, their lives were surrounded by finding food to survive and procreating, not out of pleasure, but necessity. As a result, the spread of infectious diseases was minuscule. As stated in The Power of Plagues, the Neanderthals had the issue of parasites, but even then, it was not as bad as it would be once they would begin to settle.

As time moved forward and Neanderthals became more mentally and physically advanced and complex, they would evolve into what we know of humans today. With such advancement, however, society and culture changed as well. Instead of living a nomadic lifestyle, humans became sedentary and lived an agricultural based lifestyle as a result. With a constant supply of food, populations along with communities became much larger. Such increase, as stated in the Power of Plagues would lead to an enhanced potential for infectious diseases. With societal culture now surrounded by farming, individuals put their time and energy into perfecting their craft. They created night soil and fertilizers that would be based with animal fecal matter. Such matter would often times infect the water supplies of cities and was a huge factor in the increase of infectious diseases such as the plague when it appeared within their society.

In addition, as communities and populations increased the desire to fellowship and be in direct contact with another also aided in the spread of infectious diseases. This is because individuals didn’t recognize the importance of hygiene and sanitation amongst themselves and when dealing with other individuals as well. With such social and cultural change, the way in which individuals interacted with animals also changed. Populations of animals and even plants became more uniform as individuals began to domesticate them. With such increase in daily and personal interaction with animals, infectious diseases would have a heightened risk of spreading from animal to human. As Power of the Plagues stated, “with each domesticated species of animals, came the possible human exposure to new disease agents.”  The Power of Plagues also discusses the introduction of clearing forests and destroying wild game as a means for insects and rodents to travel into populated cities and find new sources for blood like humans. “It was contagious diseases that would ultimately play a role in…wars…and economic growth and prosperity of animals.” Although unaware of their role at the time, it as the creation of cities and populated areas within newly created societies that would provide the social and cultural factors that would enhance the spread of the plague throughout history.

Current Applications

As individuals today ponder the effects technology has had on society, the majority would produce positive influences. However, although technology has enabled for a multitude of opportunities and advancement, it has also provided a more efficient and effective way in which infectious diseases could be spread. As Power of the Plagues states “new and old diseases can erupt and spread throughout the world more quickly…” due to advancements within technology. As we increase the quantity of goods and improve its effectiveness in moving from country to country, the possibility to spread infectious diseases increases. As more individuals use and find ways to travel more efficiently around the world, the possibility to spread infectious diseases increases. “We can move far and wide across the globe, and the vectors of disease can also travel great distances, and be aided by fast-moving ships, trains, and planes, introducing previously remote diseases into [mainstream societies].”

This is directly seen through cases in the past. The creation of air conditioners provided a great way for individuals to cool themselves off indoors during hot environments. This may seem positive to the spread of infectious diseases, as it would keep individuals from cooling off outside. However, with the constant spread of cool air throughout entire facilities/structures, airborne diseases are highly easy to spread to big populations, as was the case with Legionnaires disease at Bellevue-Stratford Hotel. In addition to air conditioning systems, advancements within technology like the invention and mass distribution of tampons would seem positive, as it would allow for an additional avenue to handle blood from menstrual cycles. However, the advertisement of its longevity, although convenient, lead to Toxic Shock Syndrome and often death, thus providing another example of advancements in technology aiding in the spread of infectious diseases. Technology has been of the most vital importance within today’s society, as it has added such positive factors to individuals’ everyday lives, but it is also important to note, that with such efficiency, the exposure to infectious diseases becomes just as efficient. It is something that society today and the society of the future should not ignore.

Blair describes rhetoric as a way in which individuals would use language of any type as a means to “produce good men who will speak (and write) well in the service of the community, whether it be for the pulpit, the bar, or the halls of legislature. Blair accentuates the need for rhetoric to be connected with “reason, human nature, the need to cultivate taste, and moral improvement,” “as a means to preserve classical goals amid changing social conditions and new developments in knowledge.”

Blair supports such assertions of rhetoric through lectures in which he states ”  we are prompted, by the strongest motives to study how we may communicate our thoughts to one another with most advantage.” To do so, Blair requires of orators, 5 things that he believes would enhance the effectiveness of his/her speech. Good character, knowledge of the subject, industriousness, good models, practice, and the study of rhetorical theory, according to Blair are essential to have and perfect in order to be an effective orator.

I believe Blair to be correct in his assertions that individuals do need such things to be effective. Such is still relevant today. When individuals display bad character, no knowledge of their subject matter, and aren’t well versed throughout their rhetoric, it essentially becomes ineffective. With much thought, of course their would be things to add to such essentials, but for now, I believe his ideas still hold true today.

Throughout history, rhetoric has been a vital part to progress and change around the world. Such claim holds truth today. Throughout the entirety of the reading, Blair constantly reiterates that “as society improves and flourishes, men acquire more influence over one another by means of reasoning and discourse.” Such statement holds a vital importance within the rhetorical field because it sheds light on the fact that, unlike any other aspect of influence, rhetoric, by far, has been the way in which individuals seek to gain power and influence. However, with time and societal changes, the way in which individuals utilize such rhetoric and influence has changed as well.

Such shift in the use of rhetoric directly relates to the technological advances that we are able to use today. With different approaches to rhetoric, such as videos, websites, and posters, individuals are able to easily spread their rhetoric to countless individuals around the world. Thus, the scope of personal success and social status marked by one’s ability to speak clearly and effectively is never ending.

Herrick states, “rhetoric has always functioned as a path to refinement and an avenue into elite social circles.” Such holds truth today. However, with “standardized” education and English requirements, individuals already have a basis for rhetorical theory within their rhetoric. Individuals in today’s society, as seen with experience, view individuals whose rhetoric would be classified as “uneducated” or “ghetto” as a means to being uneducated, unsuccessful, and of having low social status. On the other hand, individuals who speak clearly and effectively, are seen as quite the opposite. Those in government, even if their content or message is absolute bull, are deemed as being successful and of high social status because they use their rhetoric in a way that exudes clarity and ultimately effectiveness.  However, those individuals of society with substance to their rhetoric who fail to utilize clarity and effectiveness are ultimately deemed as unsuccessful. In all instances, there are exceptions to any argument, as seen with the ultimate success of Donald Trump, whose rhetoric exudes everything but eloquence. However, throughout time and even today, the ability for an individual to be able to speak clearly and effectively conveys the up most success and social status to those educated enough to recognize such eloquence.