The Black Death and The Song Ring Around the Rosie

Some things are not as they seem. â€Å"Ring Around the Rosie† seems like a pleasant children’s nursery rhyme, but many believe it is actually a grisly song about the Black Death in Europe. The Black Death was a serial outbreak of the plague during the 1300s. During the Black Death, more than 20 million Europeans died. One-third of the population of the British Isles died from the plague. Moreover, one-third of the population of France died in the first year alone, and 50% of the people in France’s major cities died. Catastrophic death rates like these were common across all of Europe. However, just like the poem â€Å"Ring Around the Rosie†, the true effects of the Black Death differed from what many people believed. Though tragic, the Black†¦show more content†¦Secondly, with the system of manorialism in decline and peasants reclaiming the right to travel, many serfs moved to urban areas to claim job vacancies created by the Black Death. Thi s migration assisted medieval society in two main ways. First, it functioned as a catalyst for higher wages for agricultural workers because fewer peasants were left in the countryside. Secondly, this migration allowed manufacturing to continue, albeit at a reduced level, because peasants from the countryside filled enough of the vacancies created by the deaths of factory workers to keep many factories open. Had this migration not occurred, many more factories would have closed due to lack of workers. In conclusion, the socioeconomic changes caused by the Black Death had a positive impact on medieval Europe. Similar to how the Black Death gave rise to the creation of new economic systems, the Black Death also prompted the development of new medical and scientific techniques by proving older methods false. In the years before the Black Death, doctors mainly relied on the teachings of the Greek physician Galen. Galen was the pre-medieval medical theorist who came up with the theory of humorism. According to this theory, each of the four humors (mystical liquids that are in the human body) corresponded to one of the four elements (fire, water, air, andShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Ring Around The Rosie 879 Words   |  4 Pages My mom used to sing â€Å"Ring Around the Rosie† to me and my siblings. Although the memory is vague I can remember the fun we had singing the nursery rhythm. We would hold hands and form a circle, swaying to the words. We would first start out slow and increase our speed so when we got to the last verse we would fall down with some of us on top of each other. I chose this because of the fond memories in my childhood and the fun we all had. Another reason I chose this is because it reminds me of myRead MoreEssay about The Black Death in The Decameron by Boccaccio1176 Words   |  5 Pages The Black Death was an epidemic disease that was also known as the Bubonic Plague. 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About one hundred people died daily, and mostly of them were never buried in a proper manner. Their bodies scattered the street of the city unclaimed. This plague was the Black Death, the most deadly natural disasterRead MoreThe Black Death Essay1196 Words   |  5 Pages The nursery rhyme â€Å" Ring Around The Rosy† is more than a popular song little children sing while holding hands, walking around in a circle and then falling down. The nursery rhyme refers to the Black Death, one of the worst plagues of all time (Schladweller). Known as infectious diseases that spread quickly and kill countless people, plagues have had a tremendous affect on people around the world since the beginning of time. The Black Death, also known as the bubonic plague, is a contagious bacterialRead MoreBlack Plague And The Black Epidemic1337 Words   |  6 PagesBlack Plague The Black Plague outbreak was one of the scariest events in human history. The people were afraid to do everyday activities and carry on with their normal routines. This plague is known to almost every person on Earth. Even as a kid, teachers tell their students about this plague. Even the thought of an outbreak like the Black Plague makes people’s skin crawl. I am included in that category. It has gotten to the point that when any outbreak of any type or kind of disease happensRead MoreIt Was Cold Windy Night1723 Words   |  7 Pagesrealized it was pointless to stay in this uncomfortable bed. I walked carefully around my brother and sister but they awoke I could never count on them to stay asleep with my loud elephant like feet. â€Å"What are you doing up so late Taylor?† my curious sister laney asked. â€Å"Yah what are you doing up I have to get up early tomorrow?† my brother John whispered. â€Å"Just go back to bed!† I demanded. They tossed and rolled around for a little bit but finally settled down. I finished making my way outsideRead MoreIt Was Cold Windy Night1723 Words   |  7 Pagesrealized it was pointless to stay in this uncomfortable bed. I walked carefully around my brother and sister but they awoke I could never count on them to stay asleep with my loud elephant like feet. â€Å"What are you doing up so late Taylor?† my curious sister laney asked. â€Å"Yah what are you doing up I have to get up early tomorrow?† my brother John whispered. â€Å"Just go back to bed!† I demanded. They tossed and rolled around for a little bit but finally settled down. I finished making my way outsideRead MoreMedieval Music And England During The Time Of 1066-15001866 Words   |  8 Pagesthe Black Death plague. This plague wiped out more than 800 million people and was not a good time for happy and joyous music. During this time, there was a darker era of music. Music lost their optimistic tunes and created a gloomy and depressing atmosphere. Some artists even gave up because they couldn’t create happiness when everyone was dying. So this slowed down the development of music. But the Black Death left us a legacy we use today, the children’s nursery rhyme â€Å"Ring around the Rosie†, which