The Black Death

The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in European history. The plague first arrived in Sicily, at the port of Messina, on twelve trading ships. (History) Welcoming citizens had no clue of the terror that would soon be unleashed upon their lands. Every sailor aboard each ship was either dying or dead from the vicious disease, and the living were desperate for a helping hand. Unfortunately, the people they saw as their savior were not so generous. Authorities ordered the ships to leave at once, not realizing that it was already too late. As the plague wreaked havoc across Europe, it destroyed everything in its path. People started to lose faith in God and began to wonder why he would let such a horrendous event carry on. Others thought of it as some type of punishment for all of man’s sins, and these individuals had their own way of reaching out for redemption. Europe began to crumble before their very eyes. Eventually, the Black Death led to the fall of Feudalism and serfdom. There was no organization left in society, no power or control. It just didn’t exist anymore. The virulent pestilence took innocent lives, day, after day, with no remorse.

In the year 1347, the Black Plague reached the shores of Sicily on twelve Italian trading ships. (History) The humble crowds awaiting the ships’ arrival were in for a terrifying surprise. Sailors aboard the ships had all been infected with the plague. Most of the men were dead, but the few remaining were severely ill. James Giblin stated in his book that a historian recorded, “They had sickness clinging to their very bones.” (Giblin 13) As the ships arrived, the people visiting at the docks of Messina began to panic. There had been rumors of a pestilence terrorizing the E...

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...nce of the streets sent the message out that there was no authority and crime rate increased significantly. (Kelly 206)

The Great Pestilence that haunted Europe in Medieval times took out more than a third of its population. After diseased rats and fleas made their way to the ports of Messina, Sicily by ships the plague spread across Europe ever so quickly. People were falling ill and dying within days, and there was nothing anyone could do. Close friends became sick and delusional, and Europe’s people began to lose hope. Church goers lost faith in god, and others punished their selves for forgiveness. The Black Death also caused the fall of feudalism. With all of the serfs and peasants dying off, there were only few left to work fields and harvest crops. This meant higher payouts. Finally in the year 1350, the plague died off, but reappeared every few generations.