The Late Middle Ages Essay - 1713 Words

The Late Middle Ages, which lasted until the early 16th century, was a turbulent period which was beset by difficulties such as famine and battle. Monarchs with insatiable territorial appetites and religious fanaticism contributed greatly to create instability and war among the people. However, one of the greatest villain during this period was an undetectable foe, named Yersinia Pestis. This bacterium was responsible for the horrific Black Death, which ravaged Europe, Asia, and Africa in the 14th century, killing over 50 million people. In urban centers like Paris and Hamburg, 50% to 60% of the residents perished. All this happened in the middle of the 14th century, over the span of a few years. To highlight the great carnage, it is pointed out that 60% of London’s citizens died between autumn of 1348 until the spring of 1349, a scant few months. The communicability and toxicity of this germ was uncommonly high. Boccaccio, an Italian writer, said victims could have ‘ate lunch with their friends and dinner with their ancestors in paradise’. Perhaps this was an exaggeration, but the truth was not too far behind, as evidenced by the staggering numbers of deaths. This plague is known in three different names, each resembling another aspect of the horrific disease. Bubonic plague is characterized by bubos, large boils of infection and pus formed on lymph nodes. The symptoms include chills, fever, and weakness. Septicemic plague (Black Plague), enters vial the bloodstreamShow MoreRelated The Late Middle Ages Essay960 Words   |  4 PagesThe Middle Ages, often referred to as the Dark Ages, was regarded to be a time of despair, disease, and death. Just as the name the â€Å"Dark Ages† suggests, this period of European history seemed to be surrounded by darkness and hopelessness. Unfortunately, the majority of people only see this side of the Middle Ages when, in fact, the Middle Ages was a much more important era. Especially during the late Middle Ages, one can find a change in orthodox social structure, political instability mostly concernedRead MoreThe Danse In Late Middle Ages1850 Words   |  8 PagesThe Danse Macabre in Late Middle Ages In the History of Art, the theme of death was always present, because death is a part of life. For the Christian people in the Middle Ages, death is a way to be close to God and to reach Heaven. Dying was part of life. But the dreary and scary side of the end of life was absent from art and culture.1 In the end of the Fourteenth century there is a real wave of death and macabre in art. In the same time the Danse of Death appear progressively in art andRead MoreThe Late Middle Ages : The Age Of Discovery And Innovation1224 Words   |  5 PagesThe Late Middle Ages were characterized by both periods of decline and periods of transition into the Renaissance. Therefore, if only viewed through some aspects, the overall quality of the Late Middle Ages can be interpreted in vastly different ways. When all events are taken into account, it is evident that even though there were periods of extreme decline and cultural deficiency, numerous events helped transition Europe into an age of discovery and innovation. The Late Middle Ages are sometimesRead MoreThe Late Middle Ages of Europe Essay1630 Words   |  7 PagesChapter 12: Crisis of the Later Middle Ages What were the causes of the population decline that began in the early 14th century? The significant population decline that began in the early 14th-century was caused primarily by â€Å"Great Famine,† and The Black Death. Beginning in 1315, the Great Famine brought seven years of starvation and vulnerability for Northern Europe. The winter of 1315 was said to be a â€Å"little ice age,† which evidently lead to crops dying off. Crops and grain were the mainRead MoreThe Late Middle Ages And Medieval Times996 Words   |  4 PagesThe Middle Ages, or Medieval Times, lasted from the fifth to fifteenth centuries in European history. Specifically, 1300-1500 brought about the period known as the Late Middle Ages. In this period, a decline of the quality of life became apparent. The Late Middle Ages is viewed largely as the early beginnings of what would become the Renaissance only a couple of centuries later. Even being the late part of the Middle Ages, much of this time was still prevalently medieval much like the earlier centuriesRead MoreOral Culture Of The Late Middle Ages1468 Words   |  6 PagesGiven the prevalence of books, magazines, and newspapers in everyday life today, it is difficult to imagine a world without print. The transition from the essentially oral culture of the late Middle Ages to the print culture of the Renaissance fundamentally changed human interaction. In Western society, the invention of the printing press and subsequent widespread literacy signaled the shift away from a primarily oral culture to a literate, print culture. Many scholars, including Plato and HaroldRead MoreThe Late Gothic Period And Early Middle Ages2372 Words   |  10 PagesAlthough the late Gothic Period proved a faster rate in development of clothing in Northern Europe than earlier in the Middle Ages, it did not compare to the Italian Renaissance’s radical development of costume in both pace and style. There were many changes in costume and clothing during the Late Gothic period compared to the previous centures, as urban area s and populations grew and continued to influence the regions surrounding them. With the feudal system gone, little attention was paid to theRead MoreLate Middle Ages: The Bubonic Plague Essay705 Words   |  3 Pagesmake the barren history out of the dark middle Ages. Then again, these attributes accomplish more than characterize the lifestyle of a medieval public opinion. Dismissed expressions, absence of training and adulterating forces portray a human advancement ousted by a period of obscurity. These dismal dark ages are incited by quickly spreading sickness, forcing foes, and extortionate forces. By seeing how these scourges, intrusions, and defilements shape a dull age, the medieval times might be all theRead MorePositive and Negative Results of The Black Plague847 Words   |  4 PagesThe Black Plague, perhaps one of the worst epidemics in history, swept its evil across Europe in the middle of the 14th century, killing an estimated 20 million people. This major population shift, along with other disasters occurring at the time, such as famine and an already existing economic recession, plunged Europe into a dark period of complete turmoil. Anarchy, psychological breakdowns, and the dissipation of church power were some of the results. As time passed, however, society managed toRead MoreSports of the Renaissance Essay1174 Words   |  5 Pagesduring the Renaissance period; football, lawn bowling, and tennis were the three main sports that influenced today’s time period the most. The Renaissance period was a time of change and rebirth. During this period, the rise of the Middle Class occurred. With the Middle Class being more involved, sports became popular as times of gathering. This brought many people together, with also the greatness of more free time. However, sports during this time were very dangerous. There were not set rules like