This expository thesis essay explores how the bubonic plague, one of the deadliest
pandemics in human history influenced human behavior and societal responses and dives into the
various forms of the plague, its symptoms and transmission, highlighting the impact on societies
across different time periods and regions, as well as the evolution of medical knowledge and how
the legacy of the bubonic plague has influenced modern day society. The bubonic plague, also
known as the Black Death, was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history and is
estimated to have killed between 75 and 200 million people worldwide, including one-quarter of
the European population. The plague had a huge impact on human behavior and society, and its
effects can still be felt today.

Today, the plague is known as a disease caused by “a specific organism (Bacillus pestis).
It is known in four forms– all fatal. The four forms were bubonic, septicemic, pneumonic, and
abortive. The two most common were bubonic and pneumonic. Bubonic is usually triggered by a
bite from an infected flea and dude effects can start to be seen within two to seven days.
symptoms include: severe malaise, fever, headaches, joint pain, and dizziness. The lymph nodes
and vessels in the area of the flea bite start to swell into sores and can grow to a diameter of up to
ten centimeters. The sores then change colors which appear black or blue due to internal bleeding
in the lymph nodes. If left untreated the bubonic plague would lead to septimic which causes
large scale bleeding in the skin and in the internal organs. If left untreated the septicemic plague
is almost always fatal. If the pathogens spread to the lungs the pneumonic plague can develop.
This form can be transmitted from person to person by droplets. Symptoms can first appear
between a few hours of infection up to a full day. If untreated the pneumonic plague will lead to
death between two to five days. The abortive plague is less severe and symptoms include a mild
fever and swelling of the lymph nodes. This provides long term immunity for the plague bacterium. About eighty percent of people who came down with the plague died within two or
three days, usually in agonizing pain. No known cures or preventative measures were known
during the early times of the spread which left medical professionals helpless and unable to
really help those with the disease. In 1636 the national government released books which
discussed orders for controlling outbreaks and lockdowns and quarantines that would be
implemented to help diminish the disease. These books additionally were published for doctors
and nurses that discussed how to take care of the dead and dying, and transportation methods that
they could use to properly help the body. People didn’t understand the concept of exactly what
the disease was. Because of this, people more so believed that what they were experiencing was
in part due to unfavorable astrological signs.In 1894 a French bacteriologist discovered exactly
what the plague was and what was causing this disease to spread and mass human extinction to
occur. He discussed how the disease can bounce from human to human through respiratory
droplets. Because of this, the disease can be exchanged through contact with one another.

The bubonic plague had a huge impact on human behavior. One of the most significant
changes in human behavior during its time was the rise of fear and paranoia. With the plague
having killed at least a fourth of the European population, it is known as one of the worst
disasters to have affected mankind and its effects have been felt across the world for centuries.
People were terrified of contracting the disease, and they often went to great lengths to avoid it.
This included social isolation, quarantine, and even violence against those who were suspected
of being infected. The plague also led to a decline in religious faith. Many people believed that
the plague was a punishment from God. Because of this people began to lose their faith when
they saw so many innocent people die around them. This led to a rise in secularism and a decline
in the power of the Church. The plague also had a significant impact on the economy as the deaths of so many people led to a shortage of labor, which caused wages to rise and prices to fall.
This made it difficult for businesses to operate, and led to a decline in economic activity. The
plague led to a breakdown of traditional social order which created an opportunity for new social
and political movements to emerge.In 1636 England began its first quarantine policy as a
response to the bubonic plague. The lockdowns and quarantines however were put into question
in regards to work in the nation and the inability to get work done to further their nation. Many
families suffered as a result of these quarantines and lockdowns that the nation put in place and
those who broke laws that were created to further lockdowns amongst the nation could be
punished and could face taxations.

The plague had a severe impact on society in many ways. One of the most significant
impacts was the decline in population. The plague killed millions of people, which in turn led to
a shortage of labor and a decline in economic activity across Europe. Due to these events, this
additionally led to a decline in the power of the Church and the rise of secularism. The rise in
secularism did not only begin due to many people losing faith in the church’s ability to protect
them from the disease, but also during the time the growing importance of science and reason
began to take place. People began to become self-reliant on the church for both explanation and
guidance, and looked more towards scientific reasoning, which was on the rise at the time of this
disease, killing millions of people. The plague also led to a number of social changes. For
example, it led to the rise of new social classes, such as the merchant class. The plague also led
to a number of cultural changes, such as the development of new forms of art and literature. In
1636 England began its first quarantine policy as a response to the bubonic plague. The
lockdowns and quarantines however were put into question in regards to work in the nation and
the inability to get work done to further their nation. Many families suffered as a result of these quarantines and lockdowns that the nation put in place and those who broke laws that were
created to further lockdowns amongst the nation could be punished and could face taxations. The
government began to implement a quarantine and isolation system in London with two main
features which were shutting houses and the pest houses. The lack and scarcity of resources
made household quarantines the most common approach to attempt to control the plague. The
shutting of houses was when a parish appointed searcher would come across a house in which a
person had died of the plague. The local constable would then go and padlock the door shut,
trapping all individuals inside of this house. When he left, he would mark the door with a red
cross with the words “Lord have mercy upon us” to identify those individuals exposed to the
plague. Watchmen were stationed outside of these houses at all hours to prevent sick or exposed
individuals from leaving the home, and spreading the plague as well as preventing healthy,
non-infected individuals from entering the home and catching the plague. The decline in
population, along with economic disruption, and the decline of religious institutions collectively
transformed the landscape of Europe during the fourteenth century and the effects were felt over
the course of four centuries. During this time, society saw and felt the weakening of multiple
systems and the rise of new socioeconomic structures. The bubonic plague was a devastating
event, however it led to a number of important changes in human society. These changes helped
to shape the world we live in today.

Between the span of the plague in the fourteenth century and many great epidemics up
into the eighteenth century. These outbreaks and plagues caused positive social responses in
which defensive measures, concepts, and practices of public health (although controversial at
first) shaped public health practices ever since. In the towns of the late medieval and modern
European nations developed practices that were intended to help control the spread of the diseases to diminish the effects. Those who contracted the plague or diseases were isolated, and
those whom they came into contact with were traced, and forced to quarantine in place.
Commerce began to take hits as bands of movement of people and food began to infect towns
around 1348. Because of this, communities were ostracized, and only granted help from outside
communities on one condition, which was that they stayed in isolation as help made their way
into the infected community/communities. This enacted restrictions and regulations for travelers,
as well as methods of shipping were implemented, which caused a growth in administrative
machines and the expansion of state power which led to the invention of medical police. The
birth of medical police saw a rise in opposition from the public as they believed their individual
rights and liberties were being imposed upon and caused major stressors on families and
communities’ social lives. This became known as a blind pandemic that was enforced by the
state. aspects of the plague became predictable over the course of years and observations. With
motion across continents and countries and travelers, moving from one place to another, people
began to get an idea of how the plague and disease was spreading to different areas, however, the
scientific causes in perspectives of how these diseases were moving were not truly understood,
and worked out until the end of the nineteenth century. The role of fleas and rats as carriers of the
disease that were spreading the disease from place to place through transit and modes of
exportation. We’re not exactly thought about. Wow the plague and diseases became predictable
over the course of years due to observation, there were many aspects that were unpredictable,
such as frequent occurrence, but irregular timing, as well as low mortality rates in different areas.
Social research and public authority during the time found two public responses which first were
those of people fleeing infected towns in an attempt to take sensible precautions, which was
recommended by mini medical riders. Secondly, the disbandment of self and family, and the rise and distant relations between family, dependence, and even neighbors. During this time society
began to see a rise in neighbors not willing to help one another as they did not know if they
would catch the plague or a disease from one another and would take precautions and not help
one another in order to contract diseases. On the flipside, however, precautionary behaviors from
some began to take place as well as some people outright ignoring social norms at the time
caused by the diseases to help their neighbors and help families and friends. Because of this,
social support systems between individuals were not completely diminished and tarnished.
Public acknowledgment of an epidemic during the time caused spontaneous flight of rich
families to flee one area and move to another, which caused damage to local governments and
commerce. By the eighteenth century plague stricken cities were common, and had been
maintained by military force.

The plague has taken on many different names which can be known as the Bubonic
Plague, Levantine, Oriental, Black Plague, and the Black Death. The disease affected multiple
countries including: Africa, Asia, And Europe. The legacy of the bubonic plague can still be seen
in modern society. The plague led to the development of many public health measures that we
rely on today to both prevent and control the spread of infectious diseases, such as quarantining,
isolation, and vaccinations. Modern healthcare institution practices are rooted in the necessity of
controlling and understanding infectious diseases which come from the plague era. Additionally,
a number of economic reforms can be seen following this time. As there was an abolishment of
serfdom, and a rise of wage labor. The interconnectedness of both the labor market and its
relationship to wages, productivity, and economic health are ideas and concepts that became
rooted in today’s society following this time period. Furthermore, the plague had a huge impact
on religion. During and after the plague, there was a huge decline in faith and a rise in secularism that has shaped our religious landscape and modern day society. The separation of church and
state became prevalent and part due to the changing and religious attitudes that followed the
black death as people began to seek more scientific reasoning, and look less toward God during
the time which has shaped our modern day society.

In conclusion, the bubonic plague, also known as the black death, was one of — if not the
deadliest pandemics in human history, killing an estimated 75-200 million people. The plague
had a huge impact on society and responses that followed and left a lasting imprint on society as
we know it today. The extremely high death toll, disruption, and tear down of economic systems,
and the dish management of the church and religious institutions, with the emergence of new
economic structures, played a huge role in what we know today. The plague played a pivotal role
in shaping public health practices, and the development of medical policies, practices, and
medicine. The plague is estimated to have killed at least a fourth of the European population, and
due to the decline and population had a number of consequences including shortage of labor and
a decline and economic activity which affected the economic system. The shortage of labor
caused wages to rise and prices to fall, which made it difficult for businesses to operate and
many times resulted in the closing of businesses. Additionally, the plague disrupted and caused
lasting changes on trade in commerce, as well as people becoming afraid to travel and trade with
others. With people during the time looking to God to help them, during this time. With mass
amounts of death in every direction many people began to lose faith in the churches ability to
protect them, in which people look more towards science and reasoning which in turn helped
cause advances in medical practices as we know today., in which people look more towards
science and reasoning which in turn helped cause advances in medical practices as we know
today. The bubonic plague taught us the importance of international cooperation, when responding to pandemics as the plague had spread quickly across borders, and began infecting
people and many different nations, causing their societies to crumble as well. While this was a
very tragic event, it led to a number of important changes in our modern day society that we can
learn from so that we can better prepare for future challenges. Thanks to modern medicine and
public health measures the ability to help combat disease and the spread of outbreaks has been
able to be put under control and taken care of much more quickly. A prime example of this is the
coronavirus, which we just recently experienced, and are still in a way dealing with today with
lasting effects still on the rise. while the coronavirus was a very deadly disease that killed
millions of people, the ability to get the disease under control, as compared to the bubonic
plague, and the diseases that were to follow. The plague was much much more informed when it
came to decision-making and the ability to combat the coronavirus was easier to manage with the
knowledge that we have today as compared to the bubonic plague, which lasted for many
centuries.