The Bubonic Plague: Europe During The Late Middle Ages

The Bubonic Plague struck Europe during the Late Middle Ages. The Plague left Europe in mass destruction, eliminating nearly half of the population. The Bubonic Plague received the name of The Black Death. This was an extremely suitable name for a disease as cynical and destructive. A long shadow was cast over the Middle Ages. The Plague’s origination was unknown and the disease was transmitting rapidly. With such a deadly disease on the loose and lives being taken by it at an ever-accelerating pace, most of the western world was in panic. However, even in such a dark time, some individuals changed their perspective on life. Life itself became a treasure, when before it was only seen as a trial. This could be seen in paintings, heard in songs, …show more content…
They turned what seemed gruesome and gloomy into works of art. Writers and artist reflected the melancholy time, occasionally brightening the works with an end-of-the-world gaiety (Matthews 264). The leading image of the age became the Dance of Death. This image portrayed the inevitable. Kings, queens, noblemen, and peasants grasp hands and danced their way to destruction. This affirmed the biblical idea that life is short and no one can escape the grasp of death’s hands. This concept was portrayed in several different art forms. This symbol forcefully portrayed the folly of human ambition and the transitory nature of life (Matthews 264). On a fifteenth-century Spanish scroll, the bodied of crazed men and women are nude and recklessly dancing towards …show more content…
Millions of lives were lost, families were destroyed, and empires fell. Death is typically the only thing remembered during this time period. Most overlook the fact that society was developing and growing during this time of mass destruction. Artists were flourishing. People were growing in religious aspects. The Bubonic Plague is often synonymous with negative connotations, and the suffering and death did caused a great tragedy; however the Black Death did more than mass devastation. The ideas and ways of living that sprang from the ashes changed the word. The suffering of the population caused people to realize what life is, accept death, and actually begin living with a purpose. It also called for a time of rebirth, which is historically known as the Renaissance. Although the Bubonic Plague did make an attempt to destroy the human population, it failed. The result of the destruction became a foundation for the later generations to build on. The surface of the Black Death is uninvitingly wicked, but the core and the aspirations that sprung from the darkness changed society for the