Contrast and Comparison on Plague Epidemic

In 1600-1450, Western Europe and South Asia both experienced plague pandemics. The plague had both similarities and differences in the impact as far as exposure, social transformation and direct influences.

The impact of plague epidemic was similar and different in Western Europe and South Asia as far as exposure. On similarity that exists between the regions Western Europe and South Asia is they both experienced the Black Death. The reason this similarity exist is because they both traded within the same trade routes. The trade route that they traded within was the Silk Road trade routes. One difference that existed between the two regions as far as exposure is that they had different processes of becoming exposed. The reason this difference exist is because the plague came from Southern Asia/ (Asia overall) and came to Europe because of their interactions with trading.

Additionally, the plague epidemic impact was similar and different in Western Europe and Southern Asia as far as social transformation. One similarity that exists between the two regions as far as social transformation is that they both experienced same causes of death. The reason this similarity exist is the lack of medical care and doctors was a direct cause of death in both regions. In Western Europe, 1/3 of the population died due to the lack of necessities they needed to survive and the doctors were either dying or running off so they would not catch the diseases. One difference that existed between the regions is because many people were dying and leaving it opened the door for social change. The reason this occurred is because the landowners and other employers still needed workers even though people were dying, so it was not going to be any more cheap labor going around they had to have good wages. When people died it gave peasants and slaves more freedom also the opportunity to become wealthy.

Finally, the plague pandemic was similar and different in the impact as far as direct influence. One similarity that exists between both regions regarding to direct influences was that they both experienced population decline. The reason this similarity exists is because people grew ill and eventually died. In Asia, 35 million people died from the Black Death. One difference that exists was the different cultural influences. The reason this existed is because the plague transformed the cultural beliefs people had. In Europe, people began to lose faith in the church because of the diseases while in Asia they blamed the plague epidemic as punishment from God.

In conclusion, the plague pandemic’s impact on South Asia and Western Europe had both similarities and differences in direct influences, exposure to the diseases , and social transformation