What is the primary purpose for the Black Plague's arrival in Europe?

Question

I was just reading about the plague and how it got to Europe due to the travelers, carrying the oriental rats in their loads unknowingly. But why exactly did this happen? Was God trying revive and reform the continent? Was it just an ongoing impact of sin in history?

Answer 1

It caused by international trade

Answer 2

I seriously doubt that God had anything to do with the plague. It wasn't the first time in history that the plague popped up and killed a lot of people. The plague showed up in ancient cities many times, and it was also spreading across Asia before it hit Europe (before it spread to the Middle East). And then there was the many outbreaks after the Black Death. It even affects some people to this day. It's a disease, that's all it is. It is a bacteria that constantly looks for new hosts to survive. The Black Death of the 1300s was so bad for many reasons, the biggest of which was horrible hygiene. People pooped and peed all over the place, they hardly bathed, medicine was at a low point, and many cities were over crowded that were also full of rats. Other things like famine and bad weather contributed to poor health, which didn't help people.

If you think that the plague was a 'punishment from God', you might as well call all diseases such. But they're not. They're just diseases.

Oh, and did your book mention how the plague was also used as a form of germ warfare? It was used as such during the siege of Caffa by the Mongols and Venetians. Plague ridden bodies flung over the city walls so everyone inside got sick. Real pretty.

Answer 3

Quick history of the Plague's spread:
1- began in orient
2- seagoing trade spread it through Mediterranian port cities first
3- Middle ages medicine was mostly non-existent

More random Info / religious angle:
People noticed an increase in the number of cats. More rats = more cats. If you see artwork from the middle ages, the cat is almost always depicted as satanic. (Black cat is still bad luck).

The people began fearing the animal that might have reduced the rapid speading of Bubonic Plague.

Answer 4

God Give Us A Brain to think and get use of what around us to get benefits of,
If you noted that the Plague was spread in the middle ages where the simplest form of hygienic and health were nearly not exist, you talking about an era where daemons are responsible for the most illnesses and diseases.

Answer 5

If "God causes plagues" is part of your understanding of history I would encourage you to read some books other than the bible.

The "purpose" of the Black Plague was the same as the purpose of all diseases--to thin the herd.

Answer 6

If you're looking for a deeper meaning, consider this: the feudal system was almost like slavery, and the upper and lower classes were moving further and further apart. The Black Plague affected everybody, and we were all forced to care for each other. We were all forced to consider everyone at once, instead of us vs them.

It made us all a little more compasionate and considerate...

Answer 7

It's life - virus' form and humans don't always have the antibodies of a similar mutation to fight them off.

It's nature's way of cleaning out the weak, which sounds harsh, but again, this is Earth. You're stuck with this fact.

Answer 8

I would say its basically just the fact that there were no standards for much of anything back then. There were no organizations that supervised products being shipped, or conditions of the shippers. There were never any inspections of any sort.