Before the Black Death (or rather, the specific wave called that) finally abated, it claimed a horrifying number of lives. According to History, the Black Death arrived in Europe in 1347 and killed anywhere between 25 and 50 million people in just five years. On top of the devastating death toll, though, another factor must be considered: Not only did the people of the 14th century feel powerless against the disease, but like the victims of Vesuvius’ eruption in 79 A.D., they couldn’t comprehend what was happening.

Volcanoes were believed to be the work of Vulcan, Roman mythology’s blacksmith god of fire. Similarly, many in the Middle Ages believed that the Black Death had been inflicted on them as a divine punishment.

To examine this belief, the state of medieval medicine must be considered. As the CDC reports, bubonic plague can be treated today through antibiotics, such as fluoroquinolones, but the people of medieval Europe knew nothing of germs and antibiotics (and precious little of personal hygiene). As World History Encyclopedia puts it, a variety of curious “cures” were tried, including “potions, fumigations, bloodletting [and] pastes… most of which were ineffective and some of which were fatal.” Another popular belief was that faith and prayer could defeat the Black Death, even if it had been inflicted on the people by their God.

Piety versus plague

Jim Dyson/Getty Images