BLACK DEATH & LATE MEDIEVAL RELIGION
I.
BLACK DEATH EUROPE 1347-9
A.
BACKGROUND
1.
BETWEEN 1/3 AND 1/2 OF ALL EUROPEANS DIED FROM THIS DISEASE
2.
DEATH RATE LOT HIGHER BECAUSE YEARS PRIOR TO PLAGUE
a.
ECONOMY IN SEVERE RECESSION
b.
PEOPLE STARVING & MALNOURISHED
c.
POPULATION HAD STEADILY INCREASED IN MIDDLE AGES,
d.
BUT AMOUNT OF FOOD PRODUCED NEVER ENOUGH
e.
ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS RUINED CROPS IN MANY SUCCEEDING
YEARS
f.
ONSET OF WHAT CLIMATOLOGISTS REFER TO AS MINI ICE AGE
g.
TEMPERATURES IN LATER MIDDLE AGES COLDER
h.
SHORTER GROWING SEASON
i.
IN FACT, 1 IN 4 HARVESTS LIKELY TO BE POOR
j.
YEARS 1315-17 WORST FAMINE OF MIDDLE AGES
k.
EPIDEMIC OF TYPHOID FEVER HIT PRIOR TO PLAGUE
l.
DISEASE HIT CATTLE & SHEEP GREATLY REDUCING ANIMALS
m.
PEOPLE STARVING & MALNOURISHED MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO INFECTIOUS
DISEASES SUCH AS PLAGUE
3.
NO MODERN DAY ASSISTANCE
a.
NO WELFARE, FOOD STAMPS, SURPLUS FOOD, RED CROSS
B.
COURSE OF EVENTS OF PESTILENCE
1.
CAME FROM CHINA OR RUSSIA VIA CRIMEAN SEA & TRADE ROUTES
2.
1ST HIT SOUTHERN ITALY
3.
FROM THERE SPREAD TO OTHER TRADING CENTERS IN EUROPE
a.
VENICE, GENOA, BRISTOL, LONDON, PARIS
4.
EVERYONE SEEMED TO BE DYING
5.
IN VENICE SAID 600 DYING EVERY DAY
6.
WHEN GRAVEYARDS FILLED UP, BODIES THROWN INTO RIVERS OR MASS PITS
7.
EVERYWHERE REPORTS SPEAK OF SICK DYING TOO FAST FOR LIVING TO BURY
8.
IN ENCLOSED PLACES SUCH AS MONASTERIES & PRISONS IF ONE PERSON
EFFECTED USUALLY MEANT ALL WOULD DIE
9.
PEOPLE WENT TO BED HEALTHY AND FOUND DEAD NEXT MORNING
10.
DEATH RATE HIGHER AMONG POOR AND MEN
11.
THOUGH JEWS DIED AS FREQUENTLY AS EVERYONE ELSE
a.
THOUSANDS CRUELLY PUT TO DEATH AS ACCUSED THEM OF CAUSING
PLAGUE BY POISONING WELLS
C.
MEDIEVAL EXPLANATION & TREATMENT OF PLAGUE
1.
PEOPLE HAD NO RATIONAL EXPLANATION FOR PLAGUE
2.
NOR ANY EFFECTIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR IT
3.
OUR NURSERY RHYME RING AROUND THE ROSY ATTESTS TO THIS
4.
BOTH POPE & KING OF FRANCE SENT URGENT REQUESTS FOR HELP TO MEDICAL
FACULTY AT UNIVERSITY OF PARIS
5.
FACULTY RESPONDED PLAGUE RESULT OF CONJUNCTION OF PLANETS
a.
SATURN, MARS & JUPITER AT 1 PM ON MAR 20, 1345
6.
THIS CAUSED CORRUPTION OF SURROUNDING ATMOSPHERE
7.
MEDIEVAL DOCTORS BELIEVED ALL HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY SUBJECT TO
ASTROLOGY
8.
ULTIMATELY MOST CHRISTIANS BELIEVED PLAGUE CAUSED BY GOD'S WRATH
AT SINFUL MANKIND
9.
WHAT SINS ON 14TH C. CONSCIOUS?
a.
PRIMARILY GREED OR SIN OF AVARICE
b.
USURY
2
D.
E.
c.
WORLDLINESS
d.
ADULTERY
e.
BLASPHEMY
f.
FALSEHOOD
g.
LUXURY
h.
IRRELIGION
10.
DOCTORS' PRIMARY EFFORT - TO BURN AROMATIC SUBSTANCES TO PURIFY AIR
a.
LEADER OF CHRISTENDOM, POPE CLEMENT VI SURVIVED THIS WAY
11.
OTHERS FELT MIXING FLOWER, ST. MARY'S GOLD, W/HONEY WOULD HELP
12.
OR APPLICATION OF HOT PLASTERS TO BUBOES
13.
& LANCING OF BOILS
14.
DOCTORS' OBJECT TO MAKE PATIENT FEEL BETTER
a.
CURE BEING LEFT TO GOD
15.
PEOPLE FELT BEST PREVENTIVES
a.
PRAYER
b.
WEARING CROSSES
c.
& PARTICIPATION IN OTHER RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES
16.
FLIGHT TO MOUNTAINS OR COUNTRYSIDE CHIEF RECOURSE FOR THOSE WHO
COULD AFFORD IT
a.
BOCCACCIO'S DECAMERON
17.
BY FALL OF 1348 PLAGUE BEGAN TO ABATE
18.
JUST WHEN HOPES RISING IT HAD PASSED, PLAGUE BROKE OUT AGAIN IN SPRING
& SUMMER OF 1349
19.
MEDIEVAL PEOPLE WONDERED WHY SOME GOT IT & RECOVERED
20.
WHILE OTHERS SEEMED NOT TO HAVE GOTTEN IT AT ALL
21.
SOME PEOPLE TOOK 4-5 DAYS TO DIE
22.
OTHERS DIED AT ONCE
23.
SOME SEEMED TO HAVE CONTACTED PLAGUE FROM A FRIEND OR RELATIVE
24.
WHILE OTHERS HAD NEVER BEEN NEAR A SICK PERSON
MODERN ETYMOLOGY OF THE PLAGUE
1.
WE NOW KNOW OF COURSE MORE THAN 1 TYPE OF PLAGUE
2.
MEDICAL SCIENTISTS IDENTIFY 3 TYPES OF PLAGUE
a.
BUBONIC PLAGUE
b.
PNEUMONIC PLAGUE
c.
SEPTICEMIC PLAGUE
3.
BUBONIC PLAGUE VICTIM WOULD DIE BETWEEN 4TH DAY & A WEEK
4.
PNEUMONIC FORM IS CAUSED BY INHALING PLAGUE BACILLI
a.
DEATH FOLLOWS IN 1-2 DAYS
5.
THIRD TYPE SEPTICEMIC
a.
LIKE BUBONIC INASMUCH AS BACILLI CARRIED BY FLEA
b.
BUT BACILLUS ATTACKS BLOOD STREAM IMMEDIATELY WHEN FLEA
BITES PERSON
c.
VICTIM IS DEAD LONG BEFORE BUBOES HAVE TIME TO FORM
6.
BUBONIC FORM MOST COMMON MID 14TH C OUTBREAK
7.
FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS RESERVOIR OF PLAGUE BACILLUS
8.
LIVING AS PERMANENT PARASITE AMONG FLEAS & RODENTS IN
a.
CHINA, INDIA, SOUTHERN PARTS OF RUSSIA & WESTERN U.S.
CONSEQUENCES OF BLACK DEATH
1.
TREMENDOUS LOST OF LIVES
2.
POPE CLEMENT ESTIMATED IN 1351 PERHAPS 24 MILLION PEOPLE HAD DIED IN
1ST ONSLAUGHT OF PLAGUE
3.
PERHAPS AS MANY AS ANOTHER 20 MILLION DIED BY END OF CENTURY
4.
DENSELY POPULATED ITALIAN CITIES ENDURED INCREDIBLE LOSSES
5.
SOME TOOK 2 CENTURIES OR MORE TO RETURN TO FORMER POPULATION
LEVELS
3
6.
F.
AS PLAGUE RETURNED AT PERIODIC INTERVALS
a.
ABOUT ONCE A GENERATION FOR ROUGHLY NEXT 100 YRS
7.
W/WAR & FAMINE ADDED TO BLACK DEATH SOME SAY 2/3 OF POPULATION DIED
IN 14TH & 1ST HALF 15TH C.
8.
CALAMITY FULLY COMPARABLE IN TERMS OF DEATH, DISLOCATION & HORROR
IT WROUGHT
a.
TO WORLD WAR I & II
9.
PLAGUE HASTENED ECONOMIC DECLINE BEGUN EARLIER
10.
WHILE INITIALLY WAGES HIGHER FOR LABORERS BECAUSE OF SCARCITY OF
WORKERS
11.
GOVTS ULTIMATELY GAINED UPPER HAND & PUT RESTRAINTS ON WORKERS'
WAGES
12.
SOME WORKERS OBTAINED THEIR FREEDOM FROM SERFDOM
13.
LAWLESSNESS & DEBAUCHERY ACCOMPANIED PLAGUE AS HAD DONE DURING
GREAT PLAGUE OF ATHENS C 430 B.C.
14.
PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES PERHAPS MOST DEVASTATING
a.
PEOPLE FELT HELPLESS
b.
NO MATTER WHAT THEY DID, THEIR LIVES SEEMED TO NOT GET BETTER
c.
PLAGUE COULD TAKE ANYBODY
15.
BUOYANT OPTIMISM MARKING HIGH MIDDLE AGES GONE FOR GOOD
16.
DEPRESSION CAME TO ALL AS MOST FAMILIES EFFECTED
17.
DEEP MORBIDITY OF THOUGHT LINGERED
18.
OBSESSION WITH DEATH
19.
STRIKING EVIDENCE OF THIS IN NEW FORMS TOMBSTONES
20.
BECAME COMMON TO DEPICT DECEASED ON HIS TOMB
a.
NOT AS HE LOOKED WHEN ALIVE
b.
BUT HOW HE WOULD LOOK WHEN SOME DAYS DEAD
21.
LITERATURE & ART OF 14TH C REVEAL A TERRIBLY MORBID CONCERN W/DEATH
22.
ONE HIGHLY POPULAR ARTISTIC MOTIF
a.
DANCE OF DEATH,
23.
BIZARRE BEHAVIOR OF SOME PEOPLE OCCURRED TOO
a.
FLAGELLANTS
(1)
PILGRIMS WHO ENLISTED FOR 33 DAY PILGRIMAGES
(2)
WHIPPED ONE ANOTHER W/THONGS OF LEATHER KNOTTED W/IRON
SPIKES
(3)
SUCH MORTIFICATION SUPPOSED TO MOLLIFY GOD
(a)
WHOSE ANGER HAD SENT PLAGUE
(4)
GOVT OFFICIALS AGAINST FLAGELLANTS
(5)
REFUSED ADMITTANCE IN MANY TOWNS
24.
WORSENING OF GENERAL HEALTH OF POPULATION DUE TO MALNUTRITION &
INFECTIOUS DISEASES LIKE PLAGUE
25.
YOUNG CHILDREN ESPECIALLY PRONE TO ILL HEALTH
26.
IN LATE 13 & 14TH C BECAME RELATIVELY COMMON FOR MOTHERS OF SICKLY
CHILDREN TO RESORT TO WHAT WOULD NOW BE CONSIDERED WITCHCRAFT
27.
ALTHOUGH SUCH PRACTICES PRESENT THROUGHOUT EARLIER MA
28.
SEEMED TO BECOME MUCH MORE PREVALENT AS MOTHERS BECAME MORE
DESPERATE
ST. GUINEFORT LEGEND
1.
BELIEF RECURRING CONSTANTLY IN COUNTRYSIDE
a.
INFANT WHO CRIED ALL TIME
b.
& DID NOT SEEM TO GROW WELL NOT ONE'S REAL BABY
2.
BUT RATHER CHANGELING, LEFT BY DEMONS WHO HAD SOMEHOW MANAGED
TO SWITCH BABIES BETWEEN BIRTH & BAPTISM
3.
CERTAIN OLD WOMEN KNEW SECRET SPELLS TO MAKE DEMONS COME BACK
FOR DEMON CHILD LEAVING ONE'S OWN HEALTHY BABY IN ITS PLACE
4
4.
5.
II.
ALSO CERTAIN SAINTS CONSIDERED ESPECIALLY CONCERNED FOR SICK
CHILDREN
a.
MOTHERS WOULD CONSULT THESE SAINTS
b.
1 OF MOST POPULAR SAINTS IN S. FRANCE ST. GUINEFORT
c.
RATHER UNUSUAL SAINT AS NOT A HUMAN BUT GREYHOUND
d.
AN OLD FOLK TALE, WHICH OCCURS THROUGHOUT EUROPE & PARTS OF
ASIA IN SEVERAL FORMS
CHURCH HAD LITTLE EFFECT ON STOPPING PRAYING TO GUINFORT FOR WOMEN
CONTINUED TO BELIEVE GUINEFORT COULD HELP THEM
RELIGION LATE MIDDLE AGES
A.
CHANGES FROM HIGH MIDDLE AGES
1.
RELIGION AT CLOSE OF MA NO LONGER RATHER OPTIMISTIC SEARCH FOR
HOLINESS IN HIGH MA
2.
MANY PEOPLE TURNED AGAINST ORGANIZED CHURCH WHICH HAD SHOWN ITS
INABILITY TO DEAL W/PLAGUE
B.
MYSTICISM
1.
1 OF WAYS TO SEEK SALVATION THROUGH YOUR OWN PERSONAL QUEST
2.
PEOPLE WHO DID THIS CALLED MYSTICS
3.
& WHAT THEY PRACTICED - MYSTICISM
4.
VERY POPULAR LATE MIDDLE AGES
a.
ESPECIALLY AFTER BLACK DEATH
5.
MYSTICISM CAN BE FURTHER DEFINED AS
a.
IMMEDIATE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD ATTAINED THROUGH PERSONAL
RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE
b.
PRIMARILY ACHIEVED THROUGH PRAYER
6.
BECAME COMMON ESPECIALLY IN GERMANY & ENGLAND
7.
MEISTER ECKHART IN GERMANY EPITOMIZES THIS
C.
MEISTER ECKHART 1268-1327
1.
FELT EACH INDIVIDUAL SOUL CONTAINED SPARK OF DIVINE ESSENCE OF GOD
2.
THIS SPARK SEEKING TO BE UNITED W/GOD
3.
& GOD SEEKING THIS ALSO
4.
BUT WAY FOR THIS TO HAPPEN
5.
WAS TO WAIT FOR GOD TO FILL YOUR LIFE
D.
WOMEN MYSTICS
1.
WOMEN BECAME INVOLVED IN MYSTICISM AS WELL
2.
AS ACCEPTABLE TO BECOME MYSTIC FOR WOMEN
3.
MANY WOMEN MYSTICS EVEN PRACTICED ANOREXIA
a.
THOUGHT THIS FACILITATED THEIR VISIONS
4.
CATHERINE OF SIENA 1347-80
a.
1 OF THE MOST WELL-KNOWN MYSTICS
5.
MARGERY KEMPE
6.
JULIAN OF NORWICH
E.
JOHN WYCLIF C.1330-84
1.
SOME PEOPLE BEGAN SUGGESTING CHRISTIANS COULD DO BETTER READING
BIBLE THEMSELVES
a.
THAN TRYING TO FIND SALVATION THROUGH RITUALS OF CHURCH
b.
& BIBLE SOLE SOURCE OF DOCTRINE
2.
1 OF THESE PROMINENT INDIVIDUALS JOHN WYCLIF
3.
HE EVEN CLAIMED POPE'S AUTHORITY LACKED SCRIPTURAL AUTHORITY
4.
HE HAD MANY FOLLOWERS
a.
CALLED LOLLARDS
5.
FROM THIS TIME TRANSLATIONS INTO VERNACULAR LANGUAGES BEGAN
6.
BUT NOT WITH BLESSING OF CHURCH
F.
MARSIGLIO OF PADUA C. 1275-1343
5
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
G.
H.
I.
J.
ANOTHER UNIVERSITY TRAINED INDIVIDUAL
EXPOUNDED ONE OF MOST STARTLING HERETICAL IDEAS
SEPARATION OF CHURCH & STATE
HIS WORK THE DEFENDER OF THE PEACE
ONE OF MOST CONTROVERSIAL WORKS WRITTEN IN MIDDLE AGES
MARSIGLIO STATED CHURCH SUBORDINATE TO STATE
AUTHORITY IN CHURCH SHOULD REST IN A GENERAL COUNCIL
a.
COMPOSED OF LAYMEN AS WELL AS PRIESTS
(1)
WHO SHOULD HAVE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY
(2)
NOT THE POPE
8.
BEFORE MARSIGLIO ALL DEFENDERS OF SECULAR GOVT HAD TAKEN A
DEFENSIVE POSITION TO CHURCH
9.
MARSIGLIO TOOK OFFENSIVE BY CLAIMING SECULAR STATE MUST HAVE
SUPERIORITY
10.
EVEN THOUGH HE DENOUNCED & EXCOMMUNICATED BY CHURCH
a.
HIS IDEAS LIVED ON TO MODERN TIMES
b.
LUTHER & HENRY VIII SOME OF FAMOUS PEOPLE UTILIZING HIS IDEAS
11.
HE IDEAS ON SEPARATION OF CHURCH & STATE WILL ULTIMATELY BE
ACCEPTED BY AMERICA
JOHN HUS OF BOHEMIA 1373-1415
1.
IN SOME PLACES, LOCAL INTERPRETATIONS OF RELIGION BECAME LINKED
W/BEGINNINGS OF NATIONALISTIC FEELING
2.
MOST OBVIOUS IN BOHEMIA (WHAT IS NOW CZECH REPUBLIC & SLOVAKIA
3.
HUS, FOLLOWER OF JOHN WYLCIF
4.
ARGUED BIBLE SHOWED CHRIST NOT POPE HEAD OF CHURCH
5.
HE SAID ONE MUST BE SAVED THRU FAITH NOT RITUAL
6.
HUS HIMSELF ACCUSED BY CHURCH OF BEING HERETIC
a. BURNED AT STAKE IN 1415
DECLINE IN REPUTATION & STATUS OF PAPACY
1.
AS RULERS BECAME MORE STRONG IN LATER MIDDLE AGES
2.
ATTEMPTED TO ASSERT MORE POWER OVER CHURCH IN THEIR STATE
a.
IN CONFLICT WITH POPES OF MIDDLE AGES
(1)
WHO ASSERTED RELIGIOUS POWER SUPERIOR TO SECULAR POWER
3.
AFTER APEX OF STRONG PAPACY UNDER INNOCENT III - 13THC.
4.
SUBSEQUENT POPES UNABLE TO BE MORE POWERFUL THAN SECULAR RULERS
DISPUTE BETWEEN POPE BONIFACE & FRENCH KING PHILIP IV
1.
DEVASTATING DISPUTE BETWEEN POPE BONIFACE VIII (1294-1303) & FRENCH
KING, PHILIP IV
2.
SHATTERED WHATEVER COOPERATION BETWEEN SECULAR & RELIGIOUS POWER
3.
THIS QUARREL LED TO TIME OF CRISIS
4.
ULTIMATELY LEAD TO PROTESTANT REFORMATION
5.
DISPUTE OVER RIGHT OF KING TO TAX CLERGY W/O PRIOR PAPAL CONSENT
6.
KING NEED MONEY TO FIGHT WAR WITH ENGLAND
7.
POPE ISSUED BULL UNAM SANCTAM- LATE 13TH C.
a.
LAITY TO BE SUBJECT TO ROMAN PONTIFF & ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY
FOR SALVATION
8.
IN RESPONSE PHILIP & HIS SUPPORTERS ACCUSED BONIFACE OF EVERY CRIME
FROM MURDER TO BLACK MAGIC
9.
DISPUTE ENDED IN HUMILIATING DEBACLE FOR POPE
10.
HIS HUMBLING SYMBOLIZED DRAMATIC DECLINE IN STATUS OF PAPACY
11.
NEW POPE CLEMENT V - FRENCH
a.
COMPLETELY SUBSERVIENT TO FRENCH THRONE
BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY 1309-76
1.
POPE ABANDONED ROME & MOVED TO AVIGNON, S. FRANCE
2.
THIS MOVE OF POPES AWAY FROM ROME BECAME KNOWN AS BABYLONIAN
6
K.
L.
M.
CAPTIVITY
3.
SO CALLED AFTER HEBREW CAPTIVITY AT BABYLON
4.
AVIGNON POPES DID 2 THINGS DESIGNED TO WIN EVEN MORE ENEMIES FOR
CHURCH
a.
INSTITUTED NEW SOURCES OF REVENUE
b.
& LIVED OPULENT & MATERIALISTIC LIVES
5.
REINFORCED IMPRESSION CHURCH LEADERS ONLY IN IT FOR MONEY
6.
POPES AT AVIGNON LIVED LIKE PRINCES
GREAT SCHISM 1378-1417
1.
IF GREED & FLAUNTING OF WEALTH NOT BAD ENOUGH SINS FOR PAPACY
2.
THEY TOOK ON ADDITIONAL NEGATIVE BURDEN
3.
AFTER 1378 HEADSHIP OF CHURCH DISPUTED AMONG 2 & THEN 3 RIVAL POPES
a.
CALLED GREAT SCHISM
4.
ENGLAND, HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE & MOST OF ITALIAN CITIES LOYAL TO ONE
FACTION
5.
WHILE FRANCE, SPAIN, SCOTLAND, S. ITALY SUPPORTED ANOTHER FACTION
6.
POLITICS NOT FAITH WHAT NB
7.
PEOPLE BECAME WORRIED ABOUT THEIR SPIRITUAL HEALTH
ENDING THE GREAT SCHISM
1.
ATTEMPTS MADE TO SOLVE PROBLEMS OF CHURCH
a.
BY INSTITUTING COUNCILS
(1)
WHERE IMPORTANT LEADERS OF CHURCH WOULD MEET
(2)
& AGREE HOW TO SOLVE PROBLEMS
2.
BUT POPES ALWAYS AGAINST COUNCILS AS HAVING FINAL AUTHORITY OVER
THEM
3.
FINALLY AT COUNCIL OF CONSTANCE
a.
PROBLEM ENDED IN 1417 W/ELECTION OF NEW POPE MARTIN V
4.
THUS ENDING 40 YRS OF MULTIPLY POPES
CONSEQUENCES OF BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY & GREAT SCHISM
1.
BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY & GREAT SCHISM POINTED OUT GREAT NEED FOR
REFORM OF CHURCH
2.
EVEN THOUGH WILL BE PERIODIC ATTEMPTS TO REFORM ABUSES OF CHURCH
a.
NOT ENOUGH WILL BE DONE TO
(1)
STOP PROTESTANT REFORMATION
(a)
CONSEQUENCE OF PROBLEMS IN CHURCH
3.
BEHIND MUCH OF CRITICISM OF PAPACY A DEEPER PROBLEM
a.
SENSE THAT CHRISTENDOM LEADERLESS