Part l:
When taking a look at the similarities and differences between Stefani and Battuta’s descriptions of the Black Death in the readings that we were given it shows mostly differences. The main difference that is seen is that the Islamic response to the Black Death was that of people staying together and worshiping in the Mosque. This is explained when Stefani explains that God enlightened their affliction because of their prayers deaths never reached over 2,000 a day compared to other cities near who exceeded that number (Battuta 1). In comparison to the European response to the plague it was much different as described in the Florentine Chronicle where it states, “Frightened people abandoned the house and fled to another. Those in town fled to villages” (Stefani 1). This is seen as part of the issue talked about in the “Ordinance of Laborers” as people were fleeing and perishing it made for a struggling community (White 1).
Part ll:
When looking at the relationship between the role of women and Jews the relationship seen between the two is in both scenarios men are leading the defeat for both parties. In these sources, given to learn about the narratives of women in European societies, they explain “that an emerging class created new forms of political and social organization that tended to reduce options for women,” (Kelly-Gadol 175) as said by Kelly-Gadol in the reading. Women had less opportunities than men which led most to their home and children. On the same topic, in Malleus Maleficarum, it explains how women were seen to be intellectually even with children, as many men saw women as crazy witches (Kramer 79-81). In comparison, many Jews were persecuted and burned as a result of fear stricken people from the Plague (Marcus 1). Both women and the Jews did not deserve to be treated the way that they did and similarly they were helpless in these situations as they were both not strong enough to fight back.
