The Effects of the Black Plague on Christianity - 2851 Words

The Effects of the Black Plague on Christianity By Marilyn Griffin REL 387 AL Christ’s People through the Ages 10 October 2011 The Effects of the Black Plague on Christianity The Black Plague, also known as Black Death, the Great Mortality, and the Pestilence, is the name given to the plague that ravaged Europe between 1347 and 1351. It is said to be the greatest catastrophe experienced by the western world up to that time. In Medieval England, the Black Death killed 1.5 million people out of an estimated 4 million people between 1348 and 1350. There was no medical knowledge in England to cope with the disease. After 1350, it stroke England another six times by the end of the century. The Black Plague is said to have†¦show more content†¦Rather than becoming more religious in thanksgiving to God for survival, people began to harbor doubts. They would turn to the church for an answer to the plague, and the church was unable to help. According to Robert S. Gottfried, author of the book The Black Plague: Natural and Human Disaster in Medieval Europe, the Black Plague had a huge impact on human beh avior and psychology, â€Å"the mechanics and commonplaces of everyday life simply stopped, at least initially â€Å"(77-78). With the devastation of the plague, â€Å"peasants no longer ploughed, merchants closed their shops, and some, if not all, churchmen stopped offering last rites† (Gottfried 78). In his book The Decameron, Boccaccio described many of the responses of the people during this time: â€Å"Because of such happenings and many others of a like sort, various fears and superstitions arose among the survivors, almost all of which tended toward one end-to flee from the sick and whatever had belonged to them. In this way each man thought to be safeguarding his own health. Some among them were of the opinion that by living temperately and guarding against excesses of all kinds, they could do much toward avoiding the danger; and in forming a band they lived away from the rest of the world. Gathering in those houses where no one had been ill and living was mor e comfortable, they shut themselves in. They ate moderately of the best that could be had and drankShow MoreRelatedEssay Exam Euh10001386 Words   |  6 Pages| Essay Exam #2 West of the World | Virginia Atteberry10/16/2011 | Fall 2011 – EUH1000- Western Civil Thru 1589 - 35290 | 1. Discuss the Lay Investiture struggle and give its effects. What was really at stake? The Lay Investiture struggle was between the people of the Church and the rulers of Europe. The rulers wanted to have power over the church which would require the church officials to become dependent upon the government. Not only would the pope and the other officialsRead MoreThe Black Death s Effects On Europe1470 Words   |  6 PagesThe Black Death’s Effects on Europe Cole Younger WH2 11-20-15 Rough Draft The disastrous plague called the Black Death had monumental, long lasting effects that would ultimately change the fate of the entire continent of Europe. The mid-1300s in Europe were part of the Dark Ages. Human populations were near over-crowding, and the land was stretched to produce food. Mother Nature created a drastic solution. The world lifted a bleak shadow of death and chaos over the people ofRead MoreThe Black Death s Effects On Europe1454 Words   |  6 Pagesdisastrous plague called the Black Death had monumental, long lasting effects that would ultimately change the fate of the entire continent of Europe. The mid-1300s in Europe were part of the Dark Ages. Human populations were near over-crowding, and the land was stretched to produce food. Mother Nature created a drastic solution. 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Many during this time period would say that God, not only knew, but also was the one responsible for bringing the plague known as the â€Å"Black Death, Great Pestilence, or even the Great Plague;† it was a combination of three different plagues from three different bacterial strains: bubonicRead MoreThe Black Death Changed Our History1736 Words   |  7 Pages The Black Death changed the course of history through several forms of upheaval. The effects of the Black Death were multifarious and nuanced. However, it is possible to examine a few aspects of the changes it wrought and by so doing, acquire a greater understanding for the way it chan ged history as a whole. The dimensions of the change covered herein will include demographic shift, revolts of the people, and social upheaval. 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It was a very dark time period of history, which changed the way people viewed religion, fellow citizens, and life. In the 1300s, the century of the Plague, there were many poor conditions. One example was the home itselfRead MoreMonty Python And The Holy Grail861 Words   |  4 Pages The film Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a parody of Arthurian stories. It is a film that is not very elaborate on special effects, costumes and such as it even includes invisible horses with coconuts to mimic the sound of the â€Å"galloping† horses. All which indicate the low budget set on the production of the film. Although, the quality of the film does not suffer with it’s low budget since this adds uniqueness and more comical pieces to the film. The concepts triggered in the film come from elements