Artifact 3

Corey Johnston

2/24/19

BI-245X-01

Historical Implications of the Plague and

 It’s Impact on Today’s Society

During the time of the Middle Ages, and the development of worldly trade, a global pandemic struck which killed roughly half of the world’s population. The Plague or the Black Death was a bacterial disease which arose in fleas, and spread like a wildfire as trade progressed in the Eastern world. People did not know how to deal with the spread of the disease, often feeling powerless. As disease spread, people began to point the blame to many others who, as we know now, were innocent. People also came up with extreme ways of ridding the Plague out of Europe. The plague also led to many developments in medicine, education, as well as out casting of particular religious groups. In today’s society, plague transmission is heavily controlled by organizations such as the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization. These organizations attempt to find out the cause of disease and trace the disease back to its original source simultaneously. In Madagascar, the plague re-emerged in part to a delay in diagnosis and particular living quarters which are devastating. Throughout history, epidemics, such as the Black Death have caused many organizations to put full effort in finding ways to limit the next great epidemic from occurring again.

During the Middle Ages, the Black Death struck and killed roughly half of the world’s population. There were many contributing factors that led to the spread of this disease. Mongolian trade to Europe brought the plague with it as rats traveled in the cargo. Also, the Mongols had a battle in Europe to gain access of a particular city, and sent their dead bodies over the walls of the city, and along with them, the Black Death. One of the biggest contributing factors was the trading ports in Sicily which brought dead bodies and rats to the heavily populated city in Italy. Also, symptoms of the plague included: fever, chills, buboes, septic shock, and organ failure. As family members began to die, people wanted to be alongside them, and thus the disease spread from person to person. Also, the dense living quarters of European cities helped spread the disease. This is thought to be some of the origins of the disease throughout Europe.

Societies response to the disease included fear, frustration, chaos, a sense of powerlessness and blame to those who were innocent. As disease spread, and more and more people died, the rich people to flee their cities, and leave the poor behind to suffer. Priests refused to offer last rights to the dying. People began to lose compassion, and began to abandon their loved ones. As this proceeded, mass murder began. Blame began to arise as Jews were killed in hopes to “regain God’s grace”. Many skeptics thought the disease spread because the planets were aligned leading to the release of toxic vapor. People were quarantined from society to reduce the increase in virulence. However, all of these attempts failed to stop the spread. Drastic measures began as cities were burned to the ground, and in some cases, this was found to be successful.

The Black Death had a huge impact on societies’ culture. As the plague began to deteriorate, people began to devote more time into developments in medicine. There was more research into why this disease occurred and medicine was thought in a more practical way. The flagrants were killed off. They also wanted to search for who was responsible, but in the wrong manner, i.e., killing of the Jews. The printing press was developed which helped with documentations of epidemics like this one. Also, the Renaissance grew out of the ashes. In summary, the spread of the Black Death increased societies awareness of diseases and ways to further prevent them.

In today’s society, people have an understanding of global pandemics and ways to prevent them. Organizations arose such as the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization to better educate the public on global diseases, as well as develop ways to prevent them and keep them from spreading. Outbreaks are traced back to their original source in order to stop the spread of disease and find out every person involved in the disease. We know about plague transmission because we know how they have spread in the past. Cases occur in the U.S., when trade arises, or when people traveling to foreign countries bring in the disease. When an epidemic arises, these health organizations are contacted and bring awareness to the public and find ways to find the source. One it is found, they can develop ways to prevent it.

In Madagascar, the plague re-emerged due to poor living conditions and a delay in diagnosis. Health care workers were not used to seeing the plague and this was the main cause of the delay. It took on the form of the pneumonic plague and so it was much more virulent than previous ones. It was spread from person to person from coughing and sneezing. The thing that made it worse was that it affected urban areas, and people here had strict burial traditions of being around their loved ones after passing to celebrate them. Health organizations had to find out every person who came into contact with the infected and treat them. As populations begin to grow and expand and become mobile, these diseases that are isolated can reach the wrong city and spread like a wildfire.