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When the plague was raging, a person might be in full health one day and die miserably within 24 hours. Its presence was often felt to be punishment of divine origin. This discredited any human effort to explain the mysteries of the world.
The physicians of the time were mystified and had little to offer either by way of explanation or cure. There where to schools of thought at the time. Some believe that it was transferred via person - to - person infection and those who believed it was a "poisonous cloud. With Doctors unable to help people turned to other possibilities.
Many commoners believed in a legendary witch called the plague maiden. She was very beautiful and carried around a red scarf. It was said that she travelled from village to village, passing by each house waving her red scarf in front of a house's window or door. This house would become plague-infested. A legend told that a brave young man waited all night for the witch to arrive, and when she did he cut her hand off with a sword. It was said that he was the last to die of the plague in his village. In Switzerland and elsewhere it was a common belief that the Jews were poisoning the waters supplies. In some towns, all the Jews were rounded up and burned to death. Those Jews who had been lucky enough to be spared by the plague, found their death.
The most common belief was that the plague had been sent by God and that it was his punishment for the sins humankind had committed. Even innocent people, such as infants, had to suffer for the horrible crimes of others. The church was quick to condemn gambling, excessive drinking, and the immodesty of women and the laziness of peasants. Guilt lay upon every man's heart. It was only natural that the first measures taken against the plague were the confession of all sins and prayer for forgiveness. There were many other remedies for the plague. Wealthier people would separate themselves by going to country estates. Many herbal and dietary remedies where tried. Some believed it was caused by excess and tried to live a "Balanced life" by being neither too happy nor sad, by eating moderately etc. All these had little effect. In time rituals arose to discharge anxieties in socially acceptable ways but in the 14th century local panic often provoked bizarre behavior.
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What do we call the plague that devastated the population of Europe from 1346 to 1351?
We call it the Black Death.
What devastated Europe's population in the 14th century?
The plague that spread through Europe. Millions died. It is often referred to as the Black Death.
How did the flagellants believe they could end the plague?
The Plague was a disaster by the mid-fourteenth century, only the rich could afford to bathe. It reached Sicily in 1346, Italy in early 1347, and towards the end of 1347 it reached most of Europe. Each of these"flagellants" would carry a scourge, a wooden stick with a couple of leather tongs attached to one end. At the end of each tongs would be a sharp iron spike. about an inch in length. In many parts of Europe, flagellants aimed at propitiating God's wrath by beating each other bloody and attacking Jews, who were commonly accused of spreading the pestilence.
What is the importance of the Black Plague?
Black Death killed almost 75 to 200 million people worldwide. It destroyed many economies.
Who were the flagellants of the bubonic plague?
A group of traveler who marched in a line from town to town, punishing themselves harshly for their sins. They believed such punishment would terminate the plague.
How the plague travelled?
The Black Plague travelled by the infected fleas living on the host, which was most of the time a rat. In the time of the black plague in Europe, especially in England, people were very religious. Many thought that the plague was a punishment from God and thereby started making antidotes and so called "cures". One "cure" was brought by the flagellants, who believed that if they publicly hurt themselves, and shed blood, they would be spared by God's wrath. The blood from the flagellants was rubbed in the eyes and on the face of onlookers who believed the flagellants to be holy. This was not the smartest idea because blood was another way the disease travelled. Also, people who had the plague were quarantined, and to avoid being quarantined, family members or servants that had the plague were hidden away. The plague was very contagious and so the families themselves got the plague as well. For more information on the plague and how it was spread I recommend using the book Daily Life during the Black Deathby Joseph P. Byrne.
When did the flagellants appear in England?
They appeared at the time of the Black Death which people thought was the wrath of God. The flagellants wandered the country whipping themselves to placate the Almighty, not realising that in the process they were helping to spread the plague.
Who were the Flagellants and why were they banned by the Pope?
The Flagellants were a group of people who traveled from town to town for 33.3 days, publicly scourging themselves with strips of leather tipped with iron spikes as a punishment for the world's sins. They hoped that this would please God to bring peace and good health instead of the suffering caused by the Black Death. The Pope banned the Flagellants because he feared that the movement would lead to a revolution, as the Flagellants blamed the Church for the wickedness of the plague.
Which type of plague was the worst on Europe?
the bubonic plague
How did the bubonic plague disease spread from Europe to Asia?
The bubonic plague started in Asia and spread to Europe.
Where did the bubonic plague occur?
the Bubonic Plague occurred in Europe about 400 years ago
What caused a dramatic decline in the population of Europe in the 1300s?
The Bubonic Plague (a.k.a The Black Plague) caused a dramatic decline in the population of Europe in the 1300s.
