Why Did the Plague Sweep Through Europe in 1347?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Evo
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary
The History Channel is airing a documentary on the Plague, detailing its devastating impact in 1347, where nearly half of Europe's population perished within three years. The documentary explores the initial symptoms, the societal chaos, and personal stories from various perspectives, including a princess, a doctor, and a Jewish merchant. Viewers are encouraged to reflect on how such a catastrophe might affect modern society. The discussion also touches on historical sites related to the Plague, with participants sharing their local experiences and engaging in light-hearted banter about their fictional roles during the Plague, including peasants, nuns, and physicians. The thread highlights the blend of historical education and humor, with references to the documentary's content and the impact of the Plague on communities.
  • #31
wolram said:
And when we hired that peasant woman we had so much more spare time.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #32
wolram said:
And when we hired that peasant woman we had so much more spare time.

:smile:

So, Evo - what kind of snacks did you make up tonight to go with watching the Plague? I can't think of anything suitable.
 
  • #33
If you ever need a suit of armour to decorate the tavern and a skeleton for a retired physician you know who to see.
 
  • #34
Math Is Hard said:
:smile:

So, Evo - what kind of snacks did you make up tonight to go with watching the Plague? I can't think of anything suitable.
Butter Lover's popcorn.

Are you watching it?
 
Last edited:
  • #35
Evo said:
Butter Lover's popcorn.

Are you watching it?

I have it on, but am not being very good about watching. I keep being distracted by other things. But, mmm...I haven't made myself popcorn in a while...I think I'll make some.
 
  • #36
Math Is Hard said:
:smile:

So, Evo - what kind of snacks did you make up tonight to go with watching the Plague? I can't think of anything suitable.

Carrion pie? the birds are so fat and juicy.
 
  • #37
wolram said:
Carrion pie? the birds are so fat and juicy.

Yikes, Wolly!

The sisters have got me craving popcorn now. But I have none, so I am snacking on some mango and pineapple slices dipped in coconut yogurt.
 
  • #38
hypatia of Florida, in the spring of 1348 you are a heavy-drinking lady of the manor.



You escape the plague, and outlive your husband by thirty years, proving the old adage that men are quitters.

hehheh Pass me another glass of Mead!
 
  • #39
hypatia said:
h
You escape the plague, and outlive your husband by thirty years, proving the old adage that men are quitters.

:smile: The men don't seem to be faring too well here. :smile:
 
  • #40
Huckleberry of PF, in the spring of 1348 you are a lecherous Knight.

You are spared by the Black Death, only to be killed in a freak jousting accident

Damn you Kurdt! You killed me.

I usupect a random element to this test. There seems to be a lot of variety in the results for such a simple test.
 
  • #41
Huckleberry said:
Damn you Kurdt! You killed me.

You killed me first! :mad:
 
  • #42
Bob, in the spring of 1348 you are a greedy Bishop.

You escape God's wrath, survive the plague, and live out your days in the opulent style befitting a senior cleric.
An opulent lifestyle among lecherous nuns? :biggrin:
 
  • #43
wolram said:
Later on i gave up being a Physician and bought a tavern

Yet you never thought to give up being odorous? :confused:
 
  • #44
turbo-1 of Maine, in the spring of 1348 you are a lecherous Thief.

The Black Death is indeed God-sent. You make your fortune ransacking abandoned property, and retire as a sort of proto-Fagin type character.

Hey! Someone's got to take patronize the lecherous nuns.
 
  • #45
Kurdt said:
You killed me first! :mad:
That's what was so freakish, Huck killed you first, you fell to the ground, your lance wedged upward, Huck fell off of his horse and was impaled on your lance.
 
  • #46
It could get terribly complicated if any more knights are discovered. :rolleyes:
 
  • #47
Evo said:
That's what was so freakish, Huck killed you first, you fell to the ground, your lance wedged upward, Huck fell off of his horse and was impaled on your lance.
I'm actually not lecherous at all. I'm just extraordinarily clumsy, but I can see how the two could be confused.
 
  • #48
Evo said:
That's what was so freakish, Huck killed you first, you fell to the ground, your lance wedged upward, Huck fell off of his horse and was impaled on your lance.

Where's arildno to comment on this? :biggrin: :smile:
 
  • #49
Moonbear said:
Where's arildno to comment on this? :biggrin: :smile:
I hope you're not implying I fell off my horse on purpose!
 
  • #50
Nine people played and none personally died the Black Death?

Is the game rigged to make everyone feel lucky or is it just because so many players are located in America vs Europe?

And why do we have no prosititutes?
 
  • #51
BobG said:
And why do we have no prosititutes?
If you had watched the show, you'd know that all the prostitutes were run out of the towns or murdered, since people thought that God was punishing them for allowing such things.

At least we have MIH, the foul mouthed serving wench. :-p
 
  • #52
And a lecherous nun. Thats the same as a kinky prostitute.
 
  • #53
Evo said:
If you had watched the show, you'd know that all the prostitutes were run out of the towns or murdered, since people thought that God was punishing them for allowing such things.

At least we have MIH, the foul mouthed serving wench. :-p

Sometimes I wish we still had "titles" on PF. I'd definitely change mine to that! :approve:
 
  • #54
I don't have cable (just an antenna) so I missed the show, but I recall that at the time of the plague, there was a fear of witchcraft and people killed cats because they were considered "familiars" of the witches, helping the rats extend their flea-bitten lives and worsening the outbreaks.
 
  • #55
I just put in wolram instead of my proper name.

wolram of leamington spa, in the spring of 1348 you are a knock-kneed Bishop.

You escape God's wrath, survive the plague, and live out your days in the opulent style befitting a senior cleric.

I like this one better
 
  • #56
Kurdt said:
And a lecherous nun. Thats the same as a kinky prostitute.
So true!

Math Is Hard said:
Sometimes I wish we still had "titles" on PF. I'd definitely change mine to that! :approve:
I wish we could get titles back too, those were fun.
 
  • #57
wolram said:
I just put in wolram instead of my proper name.

wolram of leamington spa, in the spring of 1348 you are a knock-kneed Bishop.

You escape God's wrath, survive the plague, and live out your days in the opulent style befitting a senior cleric.

I like this one better
You can use the same name over and over again, with the same options checked, and come up with different outcomes, including death by plague, which is fairly colorful.
 
  • #58
I kept getting greedy "peasent". :frown:
 
  • #59
turbo-1 said:
You can use the same name over and over again, with the same options checked, and come up with different outcomes, including death by plague, which is fairly colorful.

I kept trying for handsome brave young knight who survived the plague and lived a long life,
but there aint one.
 
  • #60
Well, it just got worse. :cry:

Evo of Texas, in the spring of 1348 you are an odorous Nun.

Despite attending the sick and dying, you survive the Black Death as though by divine ordinance, and are regarded with awe.

I tried again.

Evo of Texas, in the spring of 1348 you are a stinking Nun.

Despite attending the sick and dying, you survive the Black Death as though by divine ordinance, and are regarded with awe.
I should have stopped while I was ahead.