Bubonic Plague Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Bubonic Plague - Research Paper Example In Third Pandemic during the mid 19th the Bubonic plague caused mass epidemic in parts of Central Asia, China and India with the Plague of Pune in 1897 being the most infamous amongst all. This paper attempts to take a brief look at the aftereffects of the epidemics caused mainly by Bubonic plague in the Demographic and Socio-Economic sectors. An in depth look is taken at the impact of the plague in Europe (14th century) and in South-east Asia (late 19th and early 20th century). (Weapon of Mass Destruction; Dufel and Cronin; â€Å"The outbreak of bubonic plague in Pune in 1896-97†, 2010) The catastrophic and cumulative impact of the Bubonic Plague depicts an example of the way an ailment can terrorize human civilization. The worst victim of the Bubonic plague has been Europe in the mid 14th century. However the aftershocks of the plague continued to the end 14th century and by that time almost half of the European population has perished. The deaths of more than a million people over the decades during the epidemic of ‘Black Deaths’ left a deep structural change in the European society, especially among the urban population. The early effects of the epidemic were reflected with a resurgence of hostile attitude towards the Jews. Anti-Semitism gained strong grounds as the Jews were looked upon as conspirators who had inflicted the plague epidemic upon the Christian community. The fact that Jews were significantly affected by the death tolls could not convince them. An important social effect was the near disappearance of the clergy class in Europe. As the then living conditions and arrangements of the clergies helped easy transmission of the plague a large section of the priests and nuns in the churches of Europe fell prey to the epidemic (Spiro). The following table shows the impact the plague had in terms of death toll: Besides this the epidemic clearly

Cultural Diversity and Diverse Sacred Spaces Assignment

Cultural Diversity and Diverse Sacred Spaces - Assignment Example These are all sacred places with spiritual significance to their believers, although their exact functions and related rituals somewhat vary for each religion.The Ka’ba in Mecca, the Wailing Wall, and the Bodhi Tree are the holiest sites because of what they represent to the history of these religions. The Wailing Wall, also called the Western Wall, is the holiest site for Judaism because it is the last remaining wall of the Second Temple. The First Temple refers to Solomon's Temple. This temple, however, was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE. The Jews rebuilt the Temple, which the Romans destroyed in 70 CE. For several centuries, the Jews went to the Wailing Wall to cry over the destruction of their Second Temple. The Ka’ba is the holiest place for Islam. It is the heart of their hajj, or spiritual pilgrimage, and is located inside the Grand Mosque in Mecca. Muslims believe in the centrality of the Ka’ba as a sacred place of their faith – it is the space inside it, rather than Mecca itself, which is seen as consecrated (Morgan, 2010). Many Muslims think that Adam had built the original Ka’ba but it then was ruined by the Great Flood (Morgan, 2010). The Bodhi Tree is also the holiest place for Buddhists because it is the tree where Buddha attained enlightenment (Harvey, 1990). The original Bodhi tree and its progeny are treated as relics because they symbolize Buddha’s enlightenment (Harvey, 1990). Enlightenment, or being awakened, is also called the wisdom of emptiness. It means that individual existence is not possible since everything is interconnected (Harvey, 1990). The importance of enlightenment to Buddhism portrays the role of the Bodhi Tree in the attainment of this process. The Ka’ba and the Bodhi Tree have mystical origins that the Wailing Wall does not possess. The Ka’ba contains the sacred black stone that Abraham and Ishmael placed there (Morgan, 2010). Pre-Islamic worship believes that the stones of the Ka’ba came from heaven (Morgan, 2010). The Bodhi Tree has miraculous qualities. It is believed to be cut before and to have grown again miraculously the next night (Harvey, 1990). The Wailing Wall does not have any mythical source because it is a man-made creation. Its importance lies in its historical and social functions. These sacred places are centers of prayer or spiritual meditation, although they also serve social purposes. The Wailing Wall enhances the attachment of the people to their Jewish history and identity. It signifies their â€Å"displaced sense of persecution and religious compensation† (Heyd, 1999, p.22). The Western Wall acts as a place of prayer and community activities. The Jews have commonly inserted prayers into the wall cracks because of the belief that they will come true. The custom of inserting written prayers into the wall is so extensive that some American-Jewish newspapers take advertisements of services of putting in s uch prayers for sick Jews. Moreover, Jewish families often gather near the wall to celebrate social events, such as their children’s bar mitzvah, which is a party for boys who turned thirteen. The Ka’ba and the Bodhi Tree are distinct places of worship. Muslims and Buddhists go to these places as part of their pilgrimage. People go there to pray, to assert their faith, and to strengthen their religious communities. Like the Wailing Wall, these sacred sites reinforce the connection between believers and their relationship to their faith. Similar rituals are conducted around the Ka’