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The Black Death

The Black Death which is also much known as the black plague is considered to be as one of the most devastating pandemic in human history. Art noticeably changed as an effect from the Black Death which can be seen through the use of a representative skeleton. Music as well was affected being played gloomily or not at all. But most significantly the Catholic Church was affected.

The church received a very bad reputation as a group who could cure people of the disease. They promised cures, treatment, and an explanation for the plague. “They said it was God's will, but the reason for this awful punishment was unknown. People wanted answers, but the priests and bishops didn't have any (www.insecta-inspecta.com).” Not only did people begin to loose faith in the church, but lost faith in the Catholic religion as well; and then began to think of the church as something totally fake. The church's power was weakened, and in some cases, the social roles it had played were taken over by secular groups; such groups were the flagellants (sort of a holy cult), which from their late 13th century beginnings grew tremendously during the opening years of the Black Death, and later to a pursuit of pleasure and hedonism (philosophy that pleasure is of ultimate importance). After the plague ended, aggravated and mad citizens started to revolt against the church. The church ended up gaining and losing. “It suffered as a landholder and was politically weakened, yet it also received new revenues from the vastly increased demand for religious services for the dead and the dying (like saying mass), along with new gifts and bequests (Kagen, P. 297).” It is said that the best of the clergy died, and the worst survived. The quick disappearance of nearly half the clergy, inevitable put a heavy strain on the organization of the church and limited its ability to deal effectively with movements of protest or revolt. During and immediately after the plague the usual rules and ordination of...