Bubonic Plague Dbq Analysis

Throughout history, from ancient times to modern day, countless diseases and sicknesses have stricken societies all across our planet. Many of which, whether it be chickenpox or malaria, have been cataclysmic to the societies which they afflicted. However, the Bubonic Plague, also known as the Black Plague, was distinctly devastating to European society. From just 1348-1351, the Black Plague killed somewhere between 25% to 50% of Europes population. (document 1) Also, the Black Plague brought persecution to Jews living in Europe.(document 7) Given Europe's lack of medical knowledge at the time, the major loss of life, and the horrible persecution of the Jewish people, the Black Plague was exceptionally devastating to European society.

First of all, the Bubonic

Plague left its victims with repulsive symptoms and eventually, death. One symptom of the plague was described by a writer named Boccaccio as "...swellings in the groin and armpit, in both men and women, some of which were as big as apples and some of which were shaped like eggs...".(document 2) These swellings were caused by inflamed lymph nodes located in the armpits or groin of its victims. In fact, these swellings are known as buboes and they are what the Bubonic Plague is named after. Also, another horrifying symptom of the plague was "...dark and livid spots, which would appear in great numbers on the arms, the thighs, and other parts of the body...".(document 2) Once these symptoms appeared there was no way to be cured. After all, physicians of the time had never seen such a pestilence and didn't have the medical knowledge in order to know how to treat the Plague or at least put an end to its spread. Because of this, the Bubonic Plague was devastating to European society.

Secondly, the bubonic plague killed millions of people living in Europe.

In fact, so many multitudes of people died that mass graves had to be made to bury the dead. "And then more bodies were put on top of them, with a little more dirt over those; they put layer on layer just like one puts layers of cheese in a lasagna." wrote Marchione di Coppo StefaniIn describing the mass graves the victims of the Plague were buried in.(document 4) Many countries populations dropped down at such an alarming rate that the economy couldn't recover. For example, In France the pre Plague population was 13 million, but the Plague took 37% of its population leaving only 8.2 million people in France by the time it was subsiding.(document 8) England, Belgium, Italy, and many other countries in Europe saw dramatic drops in population due to the Plague as well. These gigantic drops in population caused a chain reaction. First, economic production halted. Then this eventually caused major inflation to the economy. All together, this had such lasting effects on the European economy that it took nearly 100 years to recuperate. Furthermore, the major loss of life was devastating to Europe's economy and society in the long

run.

Lastly, the Bubonic Plague was devastating to European society because of the horrendous persecution it brought onto Jewish people living in Europe. While many people got the plague the Jewish people had a fewer percentage of them become infected. This is because of their lifestyle which was more cleanly than most other people living during this time. With this in mind, many people began placing blame on the Jewish people for the plague because not as many of them became sick. "...Jews throughout the world were reviled and accused in all lands of having caused it...".(document 7) Thus, the persecution began and Jewish people were "...burnt all the way from the Mediterranean into Germany...".(document 7) In fact, in Strasbourg, Germany on St. Valentine's Day, February 14, 1349 around two thousand Jews were burned alive in a cemetery. There was no escape from their horrendous fate unless they renounced their faith and agreed to be baptized. "Those who wanted to baptize themselves were spared.".(document 7) In addition, countless other unspeakable acts were committed against the Jewish people making the Bubonic plague devastating to European society.

As shown, the Bubonic plague was extremely devastating to European society. It was so devastating to European society because of the lack of medical knowledge, the major loss of life, and persecution of the Jewish people. It would take European society hundreds of years to return to its original state, making the era of the Bubonic plague one of the most destructive times in European history.