Mapping the Black Death

Mapping the Black Death

There are few historical records from the time of the Black Death; therefore, most of what happened is speculation. On that note, it is more likely that the plague entered Europe through Genoa rather than Venice. This is because the plague crossed the Black Sea and entered the Mediterranean when peace was restored, and embargoes were lifted, allowing shipments containing grains to come to Europe. According to Barker, Ships containing these grains that also carried rats infested with the plague first arrived in Genoa in November before arriving in Venice in February of the next year. As such, the plague most likely entered through Genoa(p,100)

The plague traveled faster over land than through shipping routes. The reason for this is that WHO indicates three main ways the plague is transferred: inhalation of infected respiratory droplets, bites from infected fleas, and direct contact with infected tissue. Seeing how Coronavirus spread rapidly on land due to inhalation of infected droplets, I would argue that this was the same case when it came to the plague. In my opinion, the plague affected Paris via shipping routes, but once it arrived in the city, land routes took over, spreading the plague all over France. In Hamburg, the plague started in 1350, as well as in other cities in Northern Germany. Notably, these cities were affected at different periods, making the ship routes the most likely way the plague traveled.

Since cities in the fourteenth century were still being developed, proper sanitation systems like sewage and waste disposal were lacking. This meant that there was poor sanitation and rats, the main carriers of the infected fleas had good breeding grounds. As such, poor sanitation contributed to the rapid spread of the plague. Contrastingly, this rapid spread did not affect London as it did other cities, and it took a while before the disease reached London. This might have happened because the city was developed and had a well-established infrastructure that prevented the rats from getting to the people and their supplies, hence keeping the plague at bay.

I think that some areas suffered very few cases of the black plague while others did not suffer at all because of various factors, including the population’s health, living conditions, and location of the area. One short-term effect of the black plague on Europe’s religious institutions is that it led to a decrease in the number of people who believed in God because their overall confidence in religion was diminished. Other short-term effects were the persecution of Jews (Zentner, McLaurine 44). In the long term, the decline of faith continued, and other movements, such as the flagellant movement, started to emerge.

Works Cited

Barker, Hannah. “Laying the corpses to rest: grain, embargoes, and Yersinia pestis in the Black Sea, 1346–48.” Speculum 96.1 (2021): 97-126.

Zentner, McLaurine H. “The black death and its Impact on the church and popular religion.” (2015).

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After reviewing all the materials in this module concerning the Black Death, answer the following questions:
Origination. Is it more likely the plague entered Europe through Venice or Genoa? Explain your answer.
Travel
Did the plague travel more quickly along shipping routes or over land? Explain your answer.
How do you believe the plague affected Paris, over land or via shipping routes? Explain your answer
Based on the information you have, can you determine how the plague traveled to Hamburg? Explain your answer.

Mapping the Black Death

Duration
What do you think contributed to the speed of the spread? Why did it take so long to reach London?
Why do you think certain areas suffered few cases or were spared from any cases altogether?
Explain at least one specific way the Black Death produced both short- and long-term effects on at least one of the following European institutions: religious, economic, or social.
Use the following guidelines to compile your answers:
You may use the section above as an outline.
12 pt Times New Roman font
1″ margins
Double-space