We Are History The Black Death
14 snips
Feb 17, 2020 Delve into the chaos of the Black Death, which wiped out half of Europe and ushered in the Renaissance. Hear how the plague spread from marmots to humans via rats and catapulted corpses during sieges. Discover the bizarre medieval beliefs about bad air, the rise of flagellants, and the brutal scapegoating of marginalized groups. Learn how this tragedy led to the fall of serfdom, changes in land use, and even a revival of wildlife in abandoned villages. Explore the cultural impacts that shaped the modern age amid the turmoil.
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Religious Upheaval And Flagellants
- Jon and Angela describe moral breakdown: clergy dying in high numbers led people to distrust the church.
- They recount macabre behaviors like graveyard orgies and flagellant movements whipping themselves publicly.
Scapegoating And Massacres
- The Black Death triggered violent scapegoating, especially against Jewish communities accused of causing the plague.
- Jon cites massacres in Strasbourg and Nuremberg as tragic consequences of panic and blame.
Personal Rabbit Story On Death
- Jon shares a personal rabbit story linking a vet visit to memories of dealing with buboes and death.
- He uses it to humanize historical suffering and the feeling of confronting mortality.
