The Bubonic Plague

During the 14th century the Bubonic Plague swept through Europe killing about a third of the population. This event was a turning point in German history because it created the biggest social horror phenomenon. The Plague caused famine, death, destruction and rebellion. Its role became that of overthrowing existing ways of life that had been roughly held intact for hundreds of years; especially through government struggles and power plays. War became a constant and the systems that held the people together vanished. As a contrast, the biggest event to Americans that could portray a good portion of the Plague would be the crash of the Stock Exchange; thus leading to the Great Depression. Similarities between the two include all that the Black Plague caused without the Black Plague - death, destruction, famine, rebellion. Both events created almost entirely new workings and systems of life among the living, including ushering in new eras.
This interests me because of how both events shaped existing and current ways of life - including social, cultural and political standings. The Bubonic Plague created such chaos and life-threatening anxiety among the people that any social order that once withheld no longer played a role. Through this plague the Church and the State lost all peace amongst each other and resolved to furthering the division of rule. Because of this the wealthy utilized their resources and created taxes to bring in income to further their lavish lifestyles. In the same context, the Great Depression caused such political upheaval that soon after the age of Monopolies surfaced. Those in power stayed in power, and money became what saved, and at once, destroyed the lives of countless. Both the Great Depression and the Bubonic Plague carved such history into the lives of these two nations that without them the world would not be where it is now.

Crisis among the Church and State during the Bubonic Plague (14th Century)

Work of art depicting the Plague and the people

Information about the Bubonic Plague