During the time of the bubonic plague there was a real paranoia regarding witches. Black cats or cats in general were associated with witches. Some people felt it would be a good idea to do away with anything pertaining to witches so they began killing cats. Well, cats catch mice and rats and when the cat population decreased so drastically,there was an over abundance of rats carrying disease - which contributed to the bubonic plague or black death. Has anyone heard this theory?
2007-06-17 13:03:10 · 5 answers · asked by Kaliko 6 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
I doubt it. The first plague epidemy in Europe started in 1340, while witch-hunts only began on a large scale starting around 1450, or more then hundreds years later.
And I never heard about a mass killing of cats. (But Jews were killed in great numbers all over Switzerland and Germany around 1348, as people blamed them for the plague. Just 12,000 in Mainz alone.)
Furthermore, there are more and more doubts about the role of rats. For example, the Black Death killed between half and two-thirds of the population of Iceland, although there were no rats in Iceland at this time. That's why more and more epidemiologists are thinking that the "plague" was rather an epidemy of Antrax or an Ebola-like virus.
2007-06-17 13:29:49 · answer #1 · answered by Erik Van Thienen 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Remember there were at least three instances of "plague" which swept Europe - at least one of which preceded persecution of witches.
Scientists are STILL trying to determine what, exactly, caused plague - bubonic, pneumonic, flu pandemic.
The flea theory still works for the first - but subsequent pandemics are now being considered, as aforestated, as more in line with Ebola like viruses.
2007-06-17 14:26:20 · answer #2 · answered by 34th B.G. - USAAF 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
There is some truth to this, but I would have to research my books to prove it. People did have a fear of cats and killed them, thus increasing the rodent population. I will get you some sources within the next two days.
2007-06-17 15:10:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know I have heard of this theory.This web site is the only reference I can find on line with a quick search.
2007-06-17 13:48:14 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes,some people might.I think it's a fact
2007-06-17 13:32:10 · answer #5 · answered by Shexyy_And_I_Know_IT 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋