Black death Quote by Phyllis Goldstein
““In October 1347, several trading ships from Genoa, Italy, pulled into the harbor at Messina in Sicily. Everyone aboard those ships was dead or dying of a mysterious plague. Europeans called it the Black Death, because victims had black swellings (each the size of an egg) on their bodies and black splotches on their skin.””
About This Quote
Source Historical Account: Narrative of the Black Death, 14th Century Europe
Describes the arrival of the plague in Sicily, noting its deadly impact and characteristic black swellings that gave it its name.
In simple terms: The Black Death arrived in Sicily with deadly symptoms and black spots.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how pandemics spread and affect societies.
Themes
history
pandemic
human suffering
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
historical
informative
When to use this quote
- public health response
- historical research
- education on disease
- cultural memory
Key Concepts
epidemiology
social impact
medieval Europe
Questions to Reflect On
- How did trade routes influence disease spread?
- What lessons can modern societies learn from medieval pandemics?
A Different Perspective
The narrative may oversimplify complex transmission routes and ignore broader socioeconomic factors.
![“[According to 1348 theorists, poisoning of Christian water by Jews was the cause of Black Death.] Even the poison used to contaminate the Christian water supply was described in meticulous detail. It was "about the size of an egg," except when it was the "size of a nut" or a "large nut," "a fist"…” quote by John Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/60b/john-kelly-70258_christianity_according-to-1348-theorists-poisoning-of_206584.jpg)
![“We are all bound thither; we are hastening to the same common goal. Black death calls all things under the sway of its laws. [Lat., Tendimus huc omnes; metam properamus ad unam. Omnia sub leges mors vocat atra suas.]” quote by Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/de9/ovid-276_ads_we-are-all-bound-thither-we-are-hastenin_207246.jpg)