The Black Death and Renaissance
The Black Death swept across Europe from 1347 to 1351, leading to an estimated death of 75-200 million people, or approximately 30-60% of Europe's total population at that time (Gottfried, 2010). It was believed to be caused by the Bubonic plague, a deadly infection carried by fleas on black rats, and it resulted in severe social, economic, and cultural impacts. The Renaissance, on the other hand, was a period of intellectual and artistic reawakening that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th centuries (from the end of the Middle Ages to the beginning of the Modern era). It began in Italy and gradually spread across Europe, bringing a new focus on the potential of human capabilities, knowledge, and creativity (Baker, 2015). This paper compares and contrasts the two with respect to several categories.
Significant Individuals:
With respect to the Black Death, this period lacked prominent individuals. However, religious leaders gained prominence as people turned to the church for solace and answers in the face of inexplicable death and suffering. In fact, the Protestant Reformation could be said to have its seeds in this period, as many viewed the Black Death as a consequence of abuses in the Church. John Wycliffe, forefather of the Protestants, emerged as a leader of significance in the wake of the Black Death with his attacks on Rome in his teachings and various treatises (Aberth & Randolph, 1999).
As for the Renaissance period, many individuals came to prominence. Political leaders like Lorenzo de'...
…and learning, contributing to the cultural richness of the era.Politics
Politically, the Black Death led to social unrest and upheaval, as authorities struggled to cope with the crisis and people rebelled against their handling of the situation. The Renaissance, though, saw the rise of powerful city-states in Italy, like Florence and Venice, governed by wealthy merchant families. Political thought also shifted, with writers like Machiavelli providing a more pragmatic, less idealistic view of power and governance.
In conclusion, the Black Death led to significant suffering and death. It also indirectly contributed to significant societal and economic changes, which paved the way for the end of feudalism and the rise of the modern era. The Renaissance, in turn, brought about a period of great intellectual and artistic output that…
References
Aberth, J., & Randolph, G. (1999). England's counter-reformation: The changing historiographyof English religious history. The Downside review, 117(409), 273-292.
Baker, P. (2015). Italian Renaissance humanism in the mirror (Vol. 14). Cambridge UniversityPress.
Field, J. V. (2016). The unhelpful notion of ‘Renaissance man’. Interdisciplinary ScienceReviews, 41(2-3), 188-201.
Gottfried, R. S. (2010). Black death. Simon and Schuster.
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