The Bubonic Plague

The Bubonic Plague was the worst plague in history, it was also caused “The Black Plague”: it came from China, spread by fleas and was considered “gods punishment.” The Bubonic Plague was a terrible disease that emerged in the mid-13^th century – and remerged every 40-75 years.  The “Black Death” spread through infected vector fleas. The Black Plague was viewed as “Punishment from god.” The Black Plague finally started to go away with the foundation of public sanitation and public health.

The Bubonic plague was an infectious disease that was one of the most devastating plagues in history. The first time it happened it was called the Black Plague. The Black Plague killed 25-50 million people in Europe and Asia in the mid 1300’s. It arrived in Europe in October 1347. The Black Death spread from China through rats on Chinese trading ships and in the trading caravans through the Silk Road.

It is spread to humans through infected vector fleas, infectious bodily fluids and inhalation of respiratory droplets. People infected with the plague “Black Plague” typically is infected through the infected flea. It is tense and playful. The Bubonic plague advances and goes through its lungs. The Pneumonic Plague – or lung-based plague – is a virulent form of Plague- and the incubation is formed by its incubation of 24 hours.

People viewed the “Black Death” or, Bubonic Plague, as “gods punishment” because they didn’t understand anything about the Black Death. [1] Because the thought the “Black Plague” was caused by God they massacred the Jews, other “Heretics” and “troublemakers”[2] Christians went town to town supporting gods and whipping themselves at the same time. [3] The Black Plague remerged “every few generations” until the rise of public sanitation and public health practices.

The Bubonic Plague changed the world by impacting communities, killing 50 million people, and creating the conditions that allow for the flourishing of the Renaissance.  The Bubonic Plague created the conditions for Nazi Germany- by stigmatizing the Jews due to the view it was a “Punishment from god”. Thousands of Jews and other troublemakers were killed during the Black Plague. The Black Plague continued, every once in a while, until the foundation of public sanitation.

Citations:

  History.com Editors. "Black Death." History, November 19, 2020. https://www.history.com/articles/black-death.

  World Health Organization (WHO). "Plague." WHO, May 24, 2024. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/plague.

  TED-Ed. How the Bubonic Plague Changed the World. YouTube video, 5:46. April 14, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Giq7re5A0lY.

  Cleveland Clinic. "Bubonic Plague." Last reviewed October 18, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21590-bubonic-plague.

[1]  History.com Editors. "Black Death." History, November 19, 2020. https://www.history.com/articles/black-death.

[2] Ibid

[3] Ibid