The Black Death Essay -- essays research papers fc

The Black finishThe Black Death, the most severe epidemic in human history, ravaged Europe from 1347-1351. This pest killed entire families at a time and destroyed at least 1,000 villages. Greatly contributing to the Crisis of the Fourteenth Century, the Black Death had many effects beyond its immediate symptoms. Not only did the Black Death take a devastating toll on human life, but it also played a major role in shaping European life in the years following.The Black Death consisted mainly of Bubonic evil, but pneumonic pestis was also present in the epidemic. Symptoms of the Bubonic plague included high fever, aching limbs, and blood vomiting. Most characteristic of the affection were swollen lymph nodes, which grew until they finally burst. Death followed soon after. The name "Black Death" not only referred to the sinister nature of the disease, but also to the black coloring of the victims swollen glands. Pneumonic plague was even more fatal, but it was not as abund ant as the Bubonic plague.The first outbreak of the plague was reported in China in the early 1330s. Trade between Asia and Europe had been growing significantly, and in 1347, rat-infested ships from China arrived in Sicily, bringing the disease with them. Since Italy was the center of European commerce, business, and politics, this provided the perfect opportunity for the disease to spread. The plague existed in the rats and was transferred to humans by fleas living on the rats. It struck ...