Sunday, 26 May 2013

Black Death Inquiry Question #4

What were some of the cures for the Black Death?


There were many strange ideas as to what would cure the Black Death. Some of these included human poo, chickens, religion and self harm. 
Cover image expansion
Lancing the Buboes

The swellings on the groin or in the armpit of the victim was cut. A strange mixture of tree resin, flower roots and human poo was then sometimes smeared inside of the open wounds before the cut was wrapped tightly to keep the mixture inside. 
The image on the right shows St Sebastian lancing the buboes of a victim of the bubonic plague. http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/51/7.cover-expansion


Vicary Method
Named after the inventor, Thomas Vicary, this method consists of plucking all feathers off of a live hen's bottom before strapping it to the armpit. Once the chicken became sick, they would wash it before strapping it back on, and repeated the victim was no longer ill. 


Bloodletting
Perhaps one of the most popular ways to rid yourself of the plague was to remove the infected blood from a victim. The wealthier people at the time could afford to have leeches placed over their body so that the leeches could suck the blood from them; a fairly painless method in comparison to having to cut yourself and drain your blood into a bowl. 

Picture

Religion
Many believed that the disease was punishment from God, sent to them for their sins. Crying out and begging for God's mercy, the Catholics whipped themselves. 
The image on the left portrays two men whipping themselves for the reason explained previously. 


Medicine
Grounded roast egg shells into a powder, chopped up leaves and petals of marigold flowers were all put together into a pot of good ale before treacle was added and the pot was warmed over a fire.This was drunk twice a day.



http://www.the-orb.net/textbooks/westciv/blackdeath.html
http://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-events/black-death2.htm
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/cures_for_the_black_death.htm

Tuesday, 21 May 2013

Black Death Inquiry Question #3

How did people try to prevent the Black Death?


One of the well known ideas as to how the Black Death spread was the idea of the disease being transmitted through the air, most likely because of the horrible smell. This caused the living to carry scents with them to ward off the stench of the dead and to make loud noises to drive away the disease.

Many types of incense were burned, including juniper, laurel, pine, beech, lemon leaves, rosemary, amber, musk, camphor, sulfur etc. When outside of the home, many carried packets of herbs with them to keep the smell away, or wore handkerchiefs that had been dipped in aromatic oils to cover their face.
Another remedy was the cure of sound, which were any sounds that caused your ears to ring. Town or church bells were rung, and cannons (relatively new at the time) were fired.

The pope would sit between two large fires; these could also be found burning at many street corners.
People were advised to avoid activities that would open their pores, including any physical activity or bathing, as well as not to eat meat.
Other strange ideas were passed on as well, including supposedly 'plague-proofed' by glazing the southern windows to block the polluted southern wind, not sleeping during the daytime and avoiding negative thoughts.

"If the epidemic occurs during hot weather it becomes necessary to adopt another regimen, and to eat cold things rather than hot and also to eat more sparingly than in cold weather. . . . You should use cucumbers, fennel, borage, bugloss and spinach, and avoid garlic, onions, leeks and everything else which generates excessive heat."
- French physician, John of Burgundy. He also suggested that during the colder months aromatic spices should be inhaled.

https://sites.google.com/site/theblackdeathmary/medical-prevention
http://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-events/black-death2.htm

Sunday, 12 May 2013

Black Death Inquiry Question #2


The first page of the narrative of Gabriele de’ Mussi. At the top of the page are the last few lines of the preceding narrative; de’ Mussi’s begins in the middle of the page. The first three lines, and the large “A” are in red ink, as are two other letters and miscellaneous pen-strokes; otherwise it is in black ink. Manuscript R 262, fos 74r; reproduced with the permission of the Library of the University of Wroclaw, Poland.

How did the Black Death Spread to Italy?

"Tell, O Sicily, and ye, the many islands of the sea, the judements of God. Confess, O Genoa, what thou hast done, since we of Genoa and Venice are compelled to make God's chastisement manifest. Alas! our ships enter the port, but of a thousand sailors hardly ten are spared. We reach our homes; our kindred and our neighbours come from all parts to visit us. Woe to us for we cast at the the darts of death! Whilst we spoke to them, whilst they embraced us and kissed us, we scattered the poison from our lips. Going back to their homes, they in turns soon infected their whole families, who in three days succumbed, and we buried in one common grave. Priests and doctors visiting the sick returned from their duties ill, and soon we numbered with the dead. O death! cruel, bitter, impious death! which thus breaks the bonds of affection and divides father and mother, brother and sister, son and wife. Lamenting our misery, we feared to fly, yet we dared not remain."
- The first page of the narrative of Gabriele de' Mussi


The Black Death first struck the northeastern Chinese province of Hopei in 1334, taking the lives of around five million people. Victims of the Black Death traveled west along trade routes to India, Syria and Mesopotamia.
In 1346, the Tartar army besieged Kaffa, a Genoese cathedral city. The Tartars catapulted the dead bodies of Plague infested men over the walls into the city. Kaffa was quick to dump the bodies back into the sea before boarding four Genoese ships in a hurry to escape the quickly spreading disease, as described by Gabriele de' Mussi in the text above. Unfortunately for them, the Plague had already come upon them. 

http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Italian_Studies/dweb/plague/perspectives/de_mussi.php
http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Italian_Studies/dweb/plague/origins/spread.php

Thursday, 2 May 2013

Black Death Inquiry Question #1

What were the symptoms of the Black Death?

There we three forms of the plague. These included the Bubonic plague; which was the most common of the three, as well as the Pneumonic Plague and the Septicemic Plague. 

Bubonic Plague
Victims of this plague would usually only still be living for five days, if not less.
The first symptom was painful swellings (buboes) that appeared in the victims' armpits or groin. From there, they would develop a fever, as well as large headaches and chills. The buboes would cause bleeding underneath the skin, which would turn the surrounding area blue or purple. Closer to death, the plague would attack the nervous system, causing the victim to suffer body spasms, or seizures. If the buboes burst, black liquid would ooze out of them and the victim may live. 
The image on the right shows a man revealing a buboe on his leg. From a 14th illumination.

Pneumonic Plague 
Most victims of this plague would only survive up to three days. There wasn't any buboes, however they suffered from severe coughing and chest pains, the fever, usually had difficulty breathing and would cough up blood. Barely anyone would recover from the peumonic form. 

Septicemic Plague
Victims of this form of the plague would die the most swiftly, and symptoms won't often appear before their death. However, victims may have experienced abdominal pain, nausea and bleeding due to blood clotting problems. 




“The first sign of the plague was that swellings appeared in the groin or the armpits. Some of the swellings became as large as an apple, sometimes they were the size of an egg. The deadly swellings then began to spread in all directions over the body. Then the disease changed. Black or red spots broke out, sometimes on the thigh or arm. These spots were large in some cases; in other they were almost like a rash.”

-The Decameron, Boccaccio



http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/000596sym.htm
http://historymedren.about.com/od/theblackdeath/a/death_defined.htm
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/symptoms_plague.htm
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/plague.htm

Monday, 25 March 2013

Inquiry Question #4

Which countries did the Vikings invade?



Lindisfarne grave marker
This is a brief timeline explaining the major events of the Vikings. There were many other raids throughout England at the time, however what made the Vikings raids so notable was their success, which was largely achieved because of their ships. 
The first Vikings raid was in the year 793 on the great monastery of Lindisfarne. 
The image on the right is of a grave marker that records the attack, which was found in Lindisfarne. 


The image below shows where the Vikings moved from century to century using a colour code made up of recorded Viking raids.  

Sunday, 24 March 2013

Inquiry Question #3



Where did the horns come from?


One of the biggest myths in history of the Vikings is of their horned helmets. At special events, when someone is dressed as a Viking, you can expect to see them wearing a helmet with horns or wings with intricate designs, as the average person seems to expect that this is what Vikings armour entails.

The most likely reason for this is all because of Carl Emil Doepler, costume designer for Richard Wagner's (image on the top right) famous opera 'Ring des Nibelungen' in 1876. Many left the opera believing that Vikings had had horned helmets after seeing all of the performers' costumes.

Out of all carvings and tapestries from the Viking age, only two or three of them have a picture of someone who appears to be wearing a horned helmet, including the image on the right. However, these 'horns' are arguably of ravens. In this case, archaeologists believe that the helmets may have been used for religious ceremonies, as Odin supposedly had two ravens; Hugin and Munin, who he told to travel the world to gather news and then to tell him what they had seen.

http://www.vikingage.com/vac/horns.html
http://www.ulsterorchestra.com/blog/2013/02/the-many-faces-of-richard-wagner/

Wednesday, 20 March 2013

Inquiry Question #2

What Did Viking Age Arms and Armour Really Look Like?

Shields

oseberg shield
10th century boss











A historical shield from the Oseberg ship (left) and a 10th century shield boss found at Hemla, South Iceland (right).
Typical Viking shields were 80-90 cm in diameter. In theory, when a man made a shield for himself, he made it to match his size and fighting style. The shield had to be big enough to provide protection, but not so big that it is able to wear the man down or cause a slower defensive reaction.
Iron, domed bosses were at the center of the shield to protect the hand during combat.


The Bayeux Tapestry (left) shows that kite shields were used at the end of the Viking Era. The shape of the kite shields was useful for an attacker who was on horseback. However, during the Viking Age most fighting was done on foot, and therefore these shields wouldn't have had much use.



  Helmets

   Probably the first thing that most people think of when hearing the word 'Vikings' is the stereotypical Viking helmet, as shown below. In reality, the Vikings' helmets didn't have intricate designs or horns. Viking helmets were fairly simplistic in comparison, using multiple pieces of iron that were riveted together. This is a helmet found at Gjermundbu in Norway (right). A similar style of helmet is shown below it. 
http://www.hurstwic.org/history/articles/manufacturing/text/viking_helmets.htm




spectacle helm(Left) A stereotypical Viking helmet that many immediately think of when they hear the word 'Vikings'. http://www.historicalreplicas.net/Viking-Helmet.htm 

(Right) A modern reproduction of helmets found from the Viking age. 

http://www.hurstwic.org/history/articles /manufacturing/text/viking_helmets.htm 


Swords

Swords were difficult to create, making them some of the most valuable and rare items within the Viking age. In Iceland, of the hundreds of weapons found in Viking age pagan burials only 16 of them are swords. 
Swords were passed down from father to son for generations, and given names, and could have been the most expensive item that a man owned. 

Tuesday, 5 March 2013

Inquiry Question #1

What religion did the Vikings follow?

Most of Scandinavia was pagan at the beginning of the Viking Age, worshiping gods and goddesses of Norse myths. 
Once the Vikings raided towns that were Christian, they switched religions fairly quickly. 
"Although contemporary accounts say little about this, we can see it in the archaeological evidence. Pagans buried their dead with grave goods, but Christians normally didn't, and this makes it relatively easy to spot the change in religion."

Image of a silver 'St Peter' penny from York
Image of Silver Thor's hammer amulet 





Thor's hammer amulet, possibly worn while at sea for protection. (Right)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/vikings/religion_01.shtml

In the age of the Vikings, both pagan and Christian religions were acceptable. Proof of this is shown by coins found that have the name 'St. Peter' on them, which would be a symbol of Christianity. However, on many coins, the 'I' in 'PETRI' was in the shape of Thor's hammer, which could mean that both Christianity and Paganism were acceptable at the time. 

Thor was a popular god among the Vikings, as, although he is believed to be quite stupid, was the god of strength. It is possible that many Vikings wore symbols of his hammer for protection. 
Loki was also a popular god among the Vikings, who was supposedly a fire-god. Loki caused many problems for the gods, although was mostly able to fix them.
As well as many of the gods, the Vikings may have also believed in giants. Loki was one of the few gods to have a relationship with a giantess, and had three children with her. 
Hel, their daughter, became the ruler of the underworld. 
One of their sons, Jormunagund, was a serpent so large that he was able to stretch all the way around the Earth. 
Their other son, Fenris, was a wolf so powerful that he scared the gods themselves, who eventually tricked him into allowing himself to be tied up until the end of time. 
Vikings believed that the world would end with the final battle of Ragnarok, between the gods and the giants. Loki and his children would take the side of the giants. 
A fire would sweep across the entire Earth, leaving only enough of each of the races to start a new world.

The Vikings believed that when they died in battle, they were sent to a place called Valhalla, located in Asgard, ruled by the god Odin, where they would feast and fight every day, waiting until the battle of Ragnarok. 

However, if one were to die from old age or sickness, they were to go to Hel, ruled by the youngest daughter of Loki, Hel. 

http://www.pantheon.org/articles/h/hel.html