The great pandemic of the mid xiv century as the final of the medieval history

About the author:

Alexandr G. Emanov, Dr. Sci. (Hist.), Professor, Department of History and Mundial Politic, University of Tyumen; a.g.emanov@utmn.ru; ORCID: 0000-0002-2352-4363

Abstract:

The article is devoted to the demographic catastrophe of the middle of XIV century. Various estimates of a place and a role of «Black Death» of 1348 year are considered in the world and Western Europe’s destinies, different “replies” of the communities of the West and the East to the test sent by the nature. The potential of the concept of the end of medieval history in the middle of XIV century is estimated in the article. The author analyzes “Ystoria de MorbosiveMortalitate” of the Italian scriptor Gabriele деMussis composed in 1348 and report on the beginning of the plague distribution during a siege by the Tatars Genoa colony of Caffa in the Crimea. Thе point of view of some researchers confirming the first case in the world history of the application of bacteriological weapons is criticized. The doubt that the demographic disaster of 1348 has led to a change of intrinsic bases of medieval society is expressed in the article. The strengthening of irrational tendencies in human behavior, the spread of the movement flagellants, millenaristics’ doctrines, eschatological moods and fears are marked.

References:

1. The Black Death / translat. and ed. by R. Horrox. Manchester: UP, 1994.

2. Albert, J. The Black Death. The great mortality of 1348–1350. A brief history with documents. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005.

3. Audouin-Rouzeau, F. Le chemins de la peste. Le rat, la puce et l’homme. Paris : Éd.Tallandier, 2007.

4. Hatcher, J. La morte nera. Storia dell’epidemia che devastò l’Europa nel Trecento. Bologna: B. Mondadori, 2010.

5. Bergdolt, K. Der Schwarze Tod: die Große Pest und das Ende des Mittelalters. München: C.H. Beck, 2000.

6. Henschel, A.W. Document zur Geschichte des Schwarzen Todes // Archiv für die gesamte Medizin. Jena, 1841. S. 45-57.

7. Tononi, A.G. La peste dell’ anno 1348 // Giornale ligustico di archeologia, storia e letteratura. Ann. XI. Nо. III–IV. Genova, 1884. P. 139-151.

8. Wheelis, M. Biological warfare at the 1346 siege of Caffa // Historical review. 2002. Vol. 8. Nо. 9. P. 4-7.

9. Kirsten, B. A draft genome of Yersinia pestis from victims of Black Death // Nature. 2011. Nо. 478. P. 506-510.

10. Levett, A.E. The Black Death. Oxford, 1916.

11. Ziegler, Ph. The Black Death. L.: Collins, 1969.

12. The Black Death — A turning point in history / Ed. by W. Bowsky. N.Y.: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1971.

13. Cartwright, F. Disease and history. L.: H.D. Ruppert, 1972.

14. Postan, M. Essays on medieval agriculture and generals problems of the medieval economy. L.: UP, 1973.

15. Herlihy, D. The Black Death and the transformation of the West. Cambridge Mass.: Harvard college, 1997.

16. Boerner, L., Severgnini B. Epidemic trade. Berlin: Freie Universität; Copenhagen: Business school, 2012.