The Effects of the Bubonic Plague in In The Wake of a...

In The Wake of a Plague, written by Norman Cantor, focuses on the Black Death and the combinations of effects that it inflicted upon 14th century Europe. Cantor identifies the drastic changes in the religious, social, theological, geographical, psychological and economic aspects of Europe; although, his most intriguing points include the biomedical effects within the Plague. He recounts specific events that lead up to the plague, occurred during the plague and speaks of the aftermath concerning the plague. He wrote the book in order to relate the experiences of victims/survivors, as well as illustrate the impact of the plague upon the social structure, government, etc. The Black Plague, also know as the Bubonic Plague, was relentless towards everything it came into contact with. It left four out of five infected individuals dead within two weeks of being infected. There were very few, if any, medical advances during this period of time—the late medieval times; although, the citizens during this time period did believe that they had created a foolproof method involving mashed snake flesh. Eventually, it came down to the fact that there was no biomedical breakthrough to save the people of the 14th century. Although this news is devastating to hear, there is some news to rejoice. The descendants of survivors of the Black Plague may be immune to AIDS, approximately â€Å"15% of the Caucasian population† to quote Cantor. This news could potentially lead to a cure for AIDS. CantorShow MoreRelatedNorman F. Cantor s The Black Plague978 Words   |  4 PagesNorman F. Cantor, a well known author who is a native of Canada. Majority of Cantor’s papers have to deal with the medieval period. In the beginning of this book, Cantor begins to describe how the black plague began and the symptoms of the black plague. The black plague was also known as the Black Death. Many have their own thoughts about how the plague started, but Cantor explains his thoughts throughout the first section of this book. According to Cantor, the plague started from a tiny flea.Read MoreThe Black Death Essay2037 Words   |  9 Pagesbe the work of the bubonic plague, a deadly infectious disease caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis or Y. pestis (Nardo, 13). However, evidence has surfaced in the past fifty years to suggest that the Black Death was not, or at least not only, the bubonic plague. In truth, this epidemic was not the bubonic plague or any other single disease; it was two or more illnesses working in tandem. Much of the evidence lies in the symptoms between the bubonic plague and other plagues that could have beenRead MoreIn the Wake of the Plague - Black Death Essay examples971 Words   |  4 PagesNorman F. Cantor, In the Wake of the Plague (New York: Harper Collins First Perennial edition, 2001) examines how the bubonic plague, or Black Death, affected Europe in the fourteenth century. Cantor recounts specific events in the time leading up to the plague, during the plague, and in the aftermath of the plague. He wrote the book to relate the experiences of victims and survivors and to illustrate the impact that the plague had on the government, families, religion, the social structure, andRead MoreThe Effects Of Bubonic Plague On The Middle Ages Essay2432 Words   |  10 PagesIn this paper, I will argue that the Bubonic Plague, which began to ravish the European populations in 1347, would have a lasting impact upon the Medieval World particularly in manners of religion, science and medicine, art, and the increased use of common and local vernaculars. These effects would alter the lives of many individuals and states of the Middle Ages, but also would be the roots of various political and social movements throughout Europe. One major area of intellectual life and cultureRead MoreThe Black Death Ravaged Europe And Its Inhabitants1588 Words   |  7 PagesFrom 1347 to about 1352, the Black Death ravaged Europe and its inhabitants. While this devastating plague caused an exorbitant loss of life and a great deal of emotional suffering, it did lead to some major social changes in Europe that changed the course of history. The Black Death transformed the consciousness of the surviving populous of medieval Europe in a way no other event that has occurred before or since could. This transformed psyche created the catalyst that expedited the transformationRead MoreEssay about The Black Death1660 Words   |  7 Pagesspread, the death toll, and the lasting effects it had on humanity. The speed at which the plague came about was a major factor in its lethality. The plague is believed to have originated in central Asia in the 1330s (Edmonds). European traders were the first to hear about the plague because they traveled to the east on trade routes. By the time they realized the extent of this brutal disease, it was too late. They had no idea what they were up against. The plague moved along trade routes and on merchantRead More The Plague - The Black Death Essay1429 Words   |  6 Pagesknown as the worst natural disaster in European history. The plague spread throughout Europe from 1346-1352. Those who survived lived in constant fear of the plagues return and it did not disappear until the 1600s. Not only were the effects devastating at the time of infection, but during the aftermath as well. The Black Death of the fourteenth century dramatically altered Europes social and economic structure. The plague was spread by fleas, which were not effected by the disease. FleasRead MoreThe Effect of Crisis on Religion in Europe: Black Death vs. Wwii4285 Words   |  18 PagesThe Effect of Crisis on Religion in Europe: How did Black Death and World War II affect religious beliefs in Europe, with a focus on the effects it had on both the Roman Catholic Church and Jews? Candidate Name: Katie Miller Candidate Number:____________ May 2013 History Extended Essay Supervisor: Mr. Derek Parsons Word Count: 3,133 Abstract This essay is a comparative analysis of the effect that two major crises in Europe had