The bubonic plague in England, 14th-18th centuries: A Foucauldian perspective

Date of Publication

2008

Document Type

Bachelor's Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts in International Studies Major in European Studies

Subject Categories

European History

College

College of Liberal Arts

Department/Unit

International Studies

Abstract/Summary

England was the most ravaged state in all of Europe and its city, London, to be one of the most damaged cities in the world with one of the highest mortality rates caused by the plague. This may be because London was one of the dirtiest and most cramped cities at that time.

There were a number of causes as stated by scholars. According to some scholars, the Black Death was caused by the bacilli Yersina Pestis, which was transmitted by fleas. The term Bubonic Plague was coined because of the presence of swollen lymph nodes called the buboes which was accompanied by high fever. This theory was coined the Bubonic Plague Theory. This theory is later contradicted by some contemporary epidemiologists, claiming that the cause of the plague is not bacteria but an Ebola-like virus or even anthrax. Other causes include the scientific causes incorporating reasons such as eclipse, bad weather and miasma. As for the religious cause, people turned to the Church for answers but no one could really identify where the plague originated. Most people considered the plague as a wrath of God designed to punish the sinful humanity. Others perceived the plague as a cure for social disintegration and transgression. Concerning the Malthusian crisis, theorists posit that every society would return to its subsistence level of existence as a result of the exploitation of its resources, hence the Black Death was perceived as a means of preventing the growth of population.

From Asia the plague was transmitted to Europe by the cargo vessels carrying trade supplies that arrived from Gascony in Melcombe, which was the first part in Europe was struck by the plague. The plague travelled both by sea and land, mostly by vessels carrying trade materials. The plague moved subsequently to the Bristol Channel. The next path of the plague in England was Gloucester. The inhabitants of Gloucester anticipated the coming of the disease, and moved to other places. As fateful as it may seem, it was too late because the infection reached Gloucester. Consequently, the plague moved to Oxford reaching to London in the year 1348. London, being the largest and dirtiest city, experienced the biggest impact of the plague.

Upon the arrival of the disease in Europe, it rapidly broadened because of the heavy population in London, many living in filth and poverty. People were said to have thrown garbage out into the streets, including household and human waste. Because of this situation and lifestyle, London became dirty and susceptible to the inhabitation of the black rats. The people seemed like a feast for the plague, with death devouring each one of them because of their own wrongdoings.";"As a result the economics, the politics and the society of London were extremely affected. Millions of people died causing both the commerce and the politics to become unstable. Education was also deeply punctured because teachers were of scarcity. Agriculture was put into halt mainly because of the shortage of farmers. Many lands remained uncultivated causing a recession. Lords opted to settle on raising animals rather than planting crops because it cost less and needed fewer laborers. Laborers began to demand higher wages. The Lords were forced to compete for peasants due to the shortage of laborers by enticing them with wages and freedoms. This according to some served as the starting point of capitalism and the headway to the Renaissance period. Parliaments were put off when the plague erupted in the city. Legislations were unable to come up with a good measure 77 because the English people continue to condemn the strict application of the quarantine method.";"In line with the consequences brought by the plague in London, there were major responses done by the government to counter the continuous spreading of the disease. The English government implemented wage controls that were designed to protect the workers in terms of wage incentive. Queen Elizabeth pioneered the enforcement of sanitation. She also structured a prohibition of the importing of goods as a measure in preventing the spread of the plague.

Towards the end of the 17th century strict spatial partitioning was applied to the city. Authorities were firm in supervising the town and set up a considerable body of militia to monitor the city. The system of surveillance was based on a system of permanent registration. Almost all inhabitants were of under strict observation. The houses of the infected were enclosed. The system prearranged the adoption of antidotes to counter the disease. There were constant fires in the street and the burning of sulphur in the houses purified the air. The whole city was enclosed so as to avoid further contamination.

In the 18th century, major changes were adopted to insure order within the community. The creation of prison cells 78 envisaged the success of surveillance mechanism. This can be also connected to the presence of ward hospitals that exercises the quarantine method. The quarantine method could also be applied to hospitals and health institutions in terms relating to contagious diseases.

Strict government methods were applied to dissuade the pandemic. Common methods among government responses were quarantine, containment, isolation, surveillance and application of health measures. In essence, these methods cover the basic responses instituted by the English government to deter the plague. Although the epidemic was unavoidable, it was clear enough that the government was able to impose order in the society as envisaged in the desertion of the infection.

The Black Death was known to strike China first during the year 1334. It was probable that the Mongols and merchant caravans by chance transported the plague from central Asia to the Middle East and Europe. Trade was the primary reason how the plague spread form one continent to the next. The path can be traced from south to north and east to west passing through Italy, France, England, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, and Finland up to Greenland.

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Electronic

Accession Number

CDTU014076

Shelf Location

Archives, The Learning Commons, 12F, Henry Sy Sr. Hall

Physical Description

1 computer disc ; 4 3/4 in.

Keywords

Black Death--England--History; England--Social conditions--1066-1485; Plague--England--London--History--18th century

Embargo Period

3-18-2021

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