During Europe's trade boom, more advanced ways of shipping goods and sea travel were developed, but with this advancement came the transport of disease. The deadliest of these new diseases was the famous Black Death, which struck Western Europe starting in 1347. Throughout history, when faced with difficult times, one can see the true side of humanity; during these times humanity often returns to its roots, be they barbaric or amiable. During the Black Death, civilizations did just that; the European communities affected by the chaos responded in various ways, some more just and beneficial, others negative and barbaric. At the time of the Black Death, little was known about the disease, doctors were ignorant and had no means to stop the pandemic. Although they have tried various “medical” responses, none have been successful. Some believed that the root of the plague was the “humors,” a system related to the basic elements (earth, water, air, and fire), and their imbalance supposedly explained various anomalies. They tried to restore balance with various techniques, some including bloodletting, a gruesome method of draining blood from an area of ​​the body. Others believed that the plague was a punishment from God and that they were condemned to damnation. Now, with the advancement of modern medicine, however, biologists have defined the Black Death as the bubonic plague, which was spread through rats and fleas from new merchant vesicles. At the time, however, it was thought to be spread through direct contact or by breathing. The plague manifested itself with disgusting boils, caused by the swelling of the lymphatic vessels, and sometimes with coughing up blood. The atrocious state in which the Plague left its victims played a part in...... middle of paper......, John. From the Decameron: The plague strikes Florence. 1350. Edited by Edward Hutton. London: Dent, 1955. Boccaccio, Giovanni. From the Decameron: The plague strikes Florence. 1350. Edited by Richard Hooker. 1993.Halsall, Paul. "Boccaccio: THE DECAMERON," INTRODUCTION." Fordham University. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/decameronintro.asp (accessed December 1, 2011). "Medieval Medicine." Medieval Period. http:/ /www.medieval-period.com/medievalmedicine.html (accessed December 1, 2011) McKay, John P, Bennett D. Hill, John Buckler, Clare Haru Crowston, and Merry E.Wiesner-Hanks . Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2010. Sources of Western Society: From Antiquity to the Enlightenment : Alan Sutton, 1991.