Black Death
Published on Nov 26, 2015
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TEN FACTS ABOUT THE BLACK DEATH
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The Black Death, also known as the Black Plague, killed millions upon millions of people. Its unforgiving symptoms and high death toll invoked fear in many people throughout the world. It halted the human species and nearly ended our existence.
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The first known victims of the Black Death were Kutluk and Magnu-Kelka in 1338 and 1339.
-They died in the area around Lake Issyk Kul, indicating that the plague once hit Russia.
-In that area, there is a grave marker that reads, "In the year of the hare. This is the grave of Kutluk. He died of the plague with his wife, Magnu-Kelka."
The plague was spread by fleas on rats.
-Yersinia Pestis was carried by fleas who infected rats, which were rather common in medieval dwellings.
-Y. Pestis blocked the flea's stomach. As it tried to feed on the feed on the blood of rats, it would regurgitate bacilli into its host, thus transmitting the plague.
There are three forms of the plague.
-The Bubonic Plague, the most common during the Black Death, occurs when bacteria travels to lymph nodes which leads to swelling known as buboes.
-The Pneumonic Plague causes infected victims to cough up blood, and infects anyone who comes in contact with an infected person's germs.
-The Septicemic Plague affects the bloodstream, and there is no known cure, even today. It is nearly 100% fatal.
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No one suspected the true culprit behind the spread of the plague.
-Some people believed that the alignment of Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars in the 40th degree of Aquarius on March 20, 1345.
-Others believed that God was punishing humanity for sinning.
Christians blamed the plague on Jews.
-Jewish people were accused of poisoning wells, and some even admitted to doing so.
-Many Jews were either forced to convert, banished from their cities, or killed.
Music and other forms of art changed.
-Their dark nature reflected the dark times of the Black Death.
-Before the plague, music and art was abundant and joyous in nature.
English soldiers brought the plague back to England from France.
-Approximately 75% of England's population perished.
-The plague reached London, England on November 1st.
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People stopped taking baths.
-It was believed to be vanity, which is a sin.
-Bathing was believed to open pores, allowing plague-infected air in.
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Over 50% of Siena's population died.
-Their population dropped from around 42,000 to around 14,000.
-The cathedral that was being built in Siena is still unfinished to this day.
Doctors thought that bad smells could ward off the plague.
-Because of this theory, people used dung and urine as "treatment" for the plague.
-This actually spread the plague more.
Although rarely fatal, the plague still exists today. Advances in medicine have made it easier to fight the plague. Despite this, however, we cannot rid ourselves of the scars that the plague has left on the human race.
Photo by Nate Robert
