Black Death
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Symptoms include swelling of the lymph nodes, high fevers, large blackish pustules that soon burst and ooze a foul liquid, aching limbs, and vomiting of blood. Finally the victim became an unrecognizable, grotesque monster. The died by the millions, alone in agony, their kinsmen fleeing in terror. Government and Clergy tried to control the catastrophe, but the disease progressed relentlessly, eventually wiping out 80 million people. Preventing the Plague Many believed that the disease was spread upon the air, So, the survivors turned to incense, fragrant oils and perfumes to ward off the deadly vapors that they believed to be causing the infection. With so many bodies piling up, if nothing else the air smelled a bit better. Towns rang church bells and held parades where all the citizens paraded through the streets banging pots and pans to drive the plague away. Gypsies, Jews, foreign travelers, and lepers were hunted down and killed as they were believed to be the carriers of the disease. Medieval entrepreneurs made a fortune selling talismans, lucky charms and enchantments. Peasants who could not afford such luxuries simply wore a necklace of garlic around their necks or crushed herbs in their pockets. People were frantic for a remedy and would try anything, no matter how peculiar or bizarre. Life in the Gothic Era In the Gothic Era, people concentrated mainly on the church, God, and personal salvation. Life in Medieval Europe was primitive and far more difficult than that of Imperial Rome. The Average life expectancy was only 30. Christianity provided an ethical element lacking in previous cultures. Traveling in the Middle Ages was discouraged by Feudal Lords and as peasants were often considered the property of their Rulers. Non-Christians had a particularly difficult time traveling throughout in Medieval Europe. According to distinguished historian Israel Abrahams, "Before leaving home, a Jewish wayfarer of the Middle Ages was bound to procure two kinds of passport. In no country in those days was freedom of motion allowed to anyone. The Jew was simply a little more hampered than others. In England, the Jew paid a feudal fine before he might cross the seas. In Spain, the system of exactions was very complete. No Jew could change his residence without a license even within his own town. But in addition to the inflictions of the Government, the Jews enacted voluntary laws of their own, forcing their brethren to obtain a congregational permit before starting."
A Medieval Song about the Plague
"A
sickly season," the
merchant said,
"The town I left was
filled with dead,
and everywhere these
queer red flies
crawled upon the
corpses' eyes,
eating them away."
"Fair make you sick,"
the merchant said,
"They crawled upon the
wine and bread.
Pale priests with oil
and books,
bulging eyes and crazy
looks,
dropping like the
flies."
"I had to laugh," the
merchant said,
"The doctors purged, and
dosed, and bled;
"And proved through
solemn disputation
"The cause lay in some
constellation.
"Then they began to
die."
"First they sneezed,"
the merchant said,
"And then they turned
the brightest red,
Begged for water, then
fell back.
With bulging eyes and
face turned black,
they waited for the
flies."
"I came away," the
merchant said,
"You can't do business
with the dead.
"So I've come here to
ply my trade.
"You'll find this to be
a fine brocade..."
And then he sneezed.
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