"Black death" - a disease of the middle Ages. Bubonic plague. The plague in the middle of the XIV century: causes and consequences

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2019-06-10 22:20:43

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"the Black death" – a disease that currently legends. In fact, the so-called epidemic of plague that struck Europe, Asia, North Africa, and even Greenland in the 14th century. Proceeded pathology mainly in the bubonic form. Territorial source of the disease was the Gobi desert. Where is this place, known to many. Gobi belongs to Eurasia. The black plague originated there because of the incident of the little ice age, which served as the impetus for a drastic and dangerous climate change.

The Bubonic plague claimed the lives of 60 million people. In some regions the number of deaths reached two thirds of the population. Because of the unpredictability of the disease, and the inability at that time to cure her, among the people flourish religious ideas. Commonplace was the belief in a higher power. At the same time began the persecution of the so-called "the poisoner”, “witch”, “wizards”, which, according to religious fanatics, brought the epidemic on people.

This period remained in history as a time of impatient people that struck fear, hatred, distrust, and numerous superstitions. In fact, the outbreak of bubonic plague, of course, there is a scientific explanation.

The myth of the appearance of bubonic plague

When historians were looking for ways of penetration of the disease into Europe, they stopped on the opinion that there was a plague in Tatarstan. More precisely, it brought Tatars.

In 1348 Crimean Tatars headed by Khan Janibek during the deposition of the Genoese fortress Kafa (Feodosia) threw back the corpses of people who earlier died of the plague. After the liberation, the Europeans began to leave the city, spreading the disease throughout Europe.

But the so-called "plague in Tatarstan" was nothing more than the conjecture of people who do not know how to explain the sudden and deadly outbreak of "black death".

The Theory failed, as it became known that the pandemic is not transmitted between people. It could have been infected from small rodents or insects.

This “General” theory has existed for quite a long time and contained a lot of mysteries. In fact, the plague of the 14th century, as it turned out, was started for several reasons.

the Black death: illness

Natural causes of the pandemic

In addition to abrupt climate change in Eurasia, the outbreak of bubonic plague were preceded by several environmental factors. Among them:

  • Global drought in China, which was followed by famine;
  • In Henan province, the mass invasion of locusts;
  • In Beijing for a long time was dominated by rains and hurricanes.

As "Justiniana plague" as it is called in history the first pandemic the black death overtook the people after mass disasters. She even went on the same way as the predecessor.

The Reduced immunity of people, triggered by environmental factor, has led to mass disease. The disaster has reached such proportions that the heads of churches had to open the room for the patient population.

The Plague in the Middle ages also had socio-economic background.

Socio-economic causes of the bubonic plague

Natural factors could not cause such a serious outbreak on their own. They were backed by such socio-economic conditions:

  • Military actions in France, Spain, Italy;
  • Domination of the Mongol-Tatar yoke over a part of Eastern Europe;
  • Reinforced trade;
  • Rapidly growing poverty;
  • Too high a population density.

Another important factor that triggered the invasion of the plague, was the belief, which meant that healthy believers have to wash as infrequently as possible. According to the saints of the time, the sight of his naked body leads the man into temptation. Some followers of the Church were so inspired with this opinion that it is not immersed in water have never in my entire adult life.

Europe in the 14th century was not considered to be clean power. The population did not follow the garbage disposal. Waste thrown from the Windows, slops, and the contents of chamber pots were emptied on the road, there flowed the blood of livestock. It later fell into the river, from which people took water for cooking and even for drinking.

As "Justiniana plague" "black death" was triggered by a large number of rodents who lived in close contact with people. In the literature of the time you can find a lot of entries devoted to what to do in case an animal bite. As you know, rats and marmots – a disease, so people was terrified of even one of their kind. To overcome the rodents and many have forgotten about everything, including his family.

Plague in Tatarstan

Allstarted

Point of origin of the disease was the Gobi desert. Where is the place that was the immediate focus, is unknown. It is assumed that the Tatars who lived nearby were hunted marmots are carriers of plague. Highly valued meat and fur of these animals. In such circumstances, the infection was inevitable.

Many rodents due to drought and other adverse weather conditions left their shelters and moved closer to the people, where you can find more food.

Hebei Province in China has suffered first. It killed at least 90 % of the population. This is another reason that gave rise to the opinion that the appearance of the plague provoked the Tartars. They are known for the silk road could carry disease with him.

Then the plague reached India, and then moved to Europe. Surprisingly, only one source of that time mentioned the true nature of the disease. It is believed that people was struck by a bubonic form of plague.

In countries which did not affect pandemic in the Middle ages raised a real panic. The head of States sent messengers for more information about the disease and forced experts to invent the cure. The population of some States, while remaining in ignorance, willingly believed the rumors that contaminated land is a rain of snakes, blowing wind and fire fall from the sky the acid balls.

Modern feature of bubonic plague

The plague Epidemic in Europe has claimed countless lives just because people have not had the opportunity to study the disease. Many myths have appeared as a result of ignorance and despair. In fact, the only causative agent of bubonic plague – is a bacterium, the carrier of which is a flea, often parasitic on black rats.

Low temperature, long outside of the host body, thawing can not destroy the causative agent of "black death". But it effectively against sun exposure and drying.

In fact, the bacteria that cause plague are parasitic only on rodents. However, in the absence of a potential host they can move per person. In the Middle ages living conditions were so unbearable that most of the rodents were killed. In the remaining animals by fleas attacked EN masse. Rodents, in turn, is weakened due to illness, looking for places to live where you can hunt for food and found them near people. So the bubonic plague was spread among the population.

Black stains

Symptoms of plague in humans

The Bubonic plague begins to develop from the moment of the bite of an infected flea. The bacteria get into the lymph nodes and start their livelihoods. Suddenly the person overcomes a fever, his body temperature rises, headache becomes unbearable, and the facial features – unrecognizable under the eyes appear black spots. On the second day after infection occurs, and the bubo. The so-called enlarged lymph node.

When the bacteria to fully develop in the nodes, they enter the bloodstream, causing the most severe degree of intoxication. Once the parasite enters the bloodstream, the skin and mucous membranes appear black spots, bruising and bleeding.

A man infected by the plague, can be identified immediately. "The black death" – a disease that changes the face and body beyond recognition. The blisters become visible on the second day, and the General condition of the patient are not good.

The Symptoms of plague in humans of the middle Ages, surprisingly, differ from signs of disease of a patient.

Symptoms of plague in humans

The Clinical picture of the bubonic plague of the middle Ages

"the Black death" – a disease that in the Middle ages was identified on the basis of:

  • High fever, vomiting;
  • Aggressiveness;
  • Continuous feeling of fear;
  • Severe pain in your chest;
  • Shortness of breath;
  • Coughing up blood secretions;
  • Blood and waste products have become black;
  • In the language it was possible to notice a dark patina;
  • Ulcers and buboes, occurring on the body gave off an unpleasant odor;
  • Clouding of consciousness

These symptoms was seen as a sign of emergency and imminent death. If a person received a life sentence, he already knew that his time left is very little. No one tried to fight these symptoms, they were considered the will of God and the Church.

Treatment of bubonic plague in the middle Ages

Medieval medicine was far from ideal. The doctor who came to examine the patient, paid more attention to the talk about how if he confessed than directly to the treatment. This was due to the religious insanity of the population. The salvation of the soul was considered much more important than healing the body. Accordingly, surgical intervention is hardly practiced.

Methods of treatment of the plague was as follows:

  • Cuttingtumors and cauterize them with a hot iron;
  • The use of antidotes;
  • Forcing the buboes of the skin of reptiles;
  • Elongation of the disease with the help of magnets.

At the same time medieval medicine was not hopeless. Some doctors at the time advised patients to stick to a good diet and wait for body to cope with the plague. This is the most adequate theory of treatment. Of course, in terms of the time cases of recovery were rare, but they occurred.

For the treatment of the disease were only mediocre doctors, or young people wishing to gain fame by a longshot. They wore a mask that was similar to a bird's head with a strong beak. However, this protection saved not all, so many doctors were killed after their patients.

Authorities powers advised people to adhere to such methods of fighting the epidemic:

  • Flight over a long distance. It was to overcome as many kilometers very quickly. To stay safe from the disease the distance needed for as long as possible.
  • Through the infected places to drive herds of horses. It was believed that the breath of these animals purifies the air. With the same purpose were advised to put in houses of different insects. In the room where recently the plague, people died, put a saucer of milk because it was thought that it absorbs the disease. Also, popular techniques such as breeding spiders in the house and burning a large number of fires near the living room.
  • Do whatever is necessary to kill the smell of the plague. It was believed that if a person does not feel the stench emanating from infected persons, it is quite protected. That's why many carried bouquets of flowers.

The doctor Also advised not to sleep after dawn, not to enter into an intimate relationship and not to think about epidemics and death. In our days this approach seems crazy, but in the Middle ages people found in him consolation.

Of Course, an important factor affecting the life during the epidemic, was religion.

Yersinia pestis

Religion during the epidemic of bubonic plague

"the Black death" – a disease that frightened the people with his uncertainty. Therefore, on this background there were various religious beliefs:

  • Plague – the usual punishment for human sin, disobedience, bad attitude to close people, desire to be tempted.
  • The Plague was caused due to neglect faith.
  • The plague due to the fact that in Vogue boots with pointed toes, which greatly angered God.

The Priests, who were obliged to hear the confession of dying men were often infected and killed. So often cities were left without priests because they feared for their lives.

Against the background of the tense situation appeared different groupings or sects, each in their own way explained the cause of the epidemic. In addition, the population were distributed to various superstitions, is considered true.

Superstitions during the bubonic plague

In any, even the most insignificant event, during an outbreak, people saw a kind of signs of destiny. Some superstitions were quite surprising:

  • Fully naked woman will plow the land around the house, and the rest of the family at this time will be indoors, the plague will leave the nearby places.
  • If you make an effigy, symbolizing the plague, and burn it, the disease will retreat.
  • To the disease is not attacked, you need to carry silver or mercury.

Many legends were composed around the image of the plague. They really believed people. They were afraid once again to open the door of his house, to keep away inside the plague spirit. Even native people were fighting among themselves, each sought to save himself and only himself.

Marmot - borne diseases

Situation

The Oppressed and frightened people eventually came to the conclusion that the plague spread so-called rogue States that wish death to the entire population. Began pursuit of suspects. They forcibly dragged to the infirmary. Many people who recognize the suspects, had committed suicide. An epidemic of suicides struck Europe. The problem has reached such proportions that the authorities threatened those who commit suicide, to put their bodies on public display.

Because many people were convinced that they needed to live quite a bit, they had a ball: he was fond of alcohol, looking for fun with women of easy virtue. This way of life further intensified the epidemic.

The Pandemic has reached such proportions that the bodies were taken at night, dropping them in special pits and burying.

Sometimes it happened that plague patients especially appeared in society, seeking to infect as many as possible enemies. Also this was due to the fact that it was believed that the plague retreat, if you give it to another.

In the atmosphere of that time any person on any ground stand out from the crowd, could be considered a poisoner.

The consequences of the "black death"

"the Black death" led to significant consequences in all spheres of life. The most important of them are:

  • Significantly change the ratio of blood groups.
  • The Instability in the political sphere of life.
  • Emptied many villages.
  • Was the beginning of feudal relations. Many people, in workshops employing their sons, were forced to take the job mastersside.
  • As work in the sphere of production was not enough male labour resources, this activity began to develop women.
  • Medicine moved to a new stage of development. Began to study various diseases and to inventing medicines from them.
  • Servants and lower strata of the population due to lack of people to claim for a better position. Many incompetent people were the heirs of the wealthy deceased relatives.
  • Attempts were made to mechanize the production.
  • Fell Significantly, housing prices and rent.
  • In a huge pace growing consciousness of the population, not wanting to blindly obey the government. This resulted in various revolts and revolutions.
  • Greatly weakened the influence of the Church on the population. People saw the helplessness of priests in the fight against the plague, ceased to trust them. Again entered into the everyday life rituals and beliefs, previously banned from the Church. Began the age “witch” and “wizards”. The number of priests has decreased significantly. In such positions often took uneducated and unsuitable for the age of the people. Many did not understand what death takes not only criminals, but also good, kind people. In this regard, Europe has questioned the power of God.
  • After such a large-scale pandemic, the plague finally left the population. Periodically in different cities of the epidemic broke out, killing people.

Today, many researchers doubt that the second pandemic proceeded in the form of bubonic plague.

the plague in Europe

Opinion about the second pandemic

There is no doubt that "the black death" – synonymous with the heyday of the bubonic plague. There is an explanation:

  • Patients with plague were rarely observed symptoms such as fever and sore throat. However, modern scholars note that in the narratives of the time there are many errors. Moreover, some works are art and contradict not only other stories, but also to themselves.
  • Third pandemic could strike down only 3% of the population, while the black death wiped out at least a third of Europe. But this, too, is the explanation. During the second pandemic was observed a terrible lack of sanitation, delivers more problems than the disease.
  • Buboes arising at defeat of the person, placed under the arms and in the neck. It would be logical if they had any on my feet, as there is the easiest way to get fleas. However, this fact is not flawless. It turns out that along with the rat flea the plague spreader is a human louse. And there are insects in the middle Ages there were many.
  • Usually precedes the epidemic of mass deaths of rats. This phenomenon was not observed in the middle Ages. This fact can be disputed, considering the presence of human lice.
  • The flea is a carrier of the disease, feel most comfortable in a warm and humid climate. The pandemic has flourished in the coldest winter.
  • The Speed of propagation of the epidemic was a record.

The result of the research it was found that the genome of modern plague strains is identical to that of disease of the middle Ages, which proves that the bubonic form of disease and was the "black death" for the people of that time. So any other opinions are automatically moved to the wrong category. But more detailed analysis is still ongoing.


Article in other languages:

AR: https://tostpost.com/ar/health/17715-black-death---a-disease-of-the-middle-ages-bubonic-plague-the-plague-i.html

BE: https://tostpost.com/be/zdaro-e/34071-chornaya-smerc---hvaroba-syarednyavechcha-bubony-chuma-ep-dem-ya-chumy.html

DE: https://tostpost.com/de/gesundheit/33753-der-schwarze-tod---eine-krankheit-des-mittelalters-beulenpest-die-pest.html

ES: https://tostpost.com/es/la-salud/33615-la-muerte-negra---la-enfermedad-de-la-edad-media-la-peste-bub-nica-la-.html

HI: https://tostpost.com/hi/health/19373-bubonic-xiv.html

JA: https://tostpost.com/ja/health/17387-bubonic.html

KK: https://tostpost.com/kk/densauly/34379-ara-l-m---auru-orta-asyr-bubonnaya-obasy-oba-ndet-xiv-asyrdy-ortasynda.html

PL: https://tostpost.com/pl/zdrowie/35442-czarna-mier---choroba-redniowiecza-d-uma-epidemia-d-umy-w-po-owie-xiv-.html

PT: https://tostpost.com/pt/sa-de/35228-morte-negra---a-doen-a-da-idade-m-dia-a-peste-bub-nica-uma-epidemia-de.html

TR: https://tostpost.com/tr/sa-l-k/30804-kara-l-m-hastal-orta-a-h-yarc-kl-veba-veba-bir-salg-n-ortas-nda-xiv-y-.html

UK: https://tostpost.com/uk/zdorov-ya/34603-chorna-smert---hvoroba-seredn-ov-chchya-bubonna-chuma-ep-dem-ya-chumi-.html

ZH: https://tostpost.com/zh/health/9337-black-death---a-disease-of-the-middle-ages-bubonic-plague-the-plague-i.html






Alin Trodden - author of the article, editor
"Hi, I'm Alin Trodden. I write texts, read books, and look for impressions. And I'm not bad at telling you about it. I am always happy to participate in interesting projects."

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