1Plague
The Plague solved an overpopulation problem in 14th century Europe. In the aftermath, wages increased, rent decreased, wealth was more evenly distributed, diet improved and life expectancy increased.
2. Jews are often associated with scheming merchants who love money because, in the Middle Ages, Christians were forbidden to lend out money with interest and Jews were not.
3. During the medieval times, it was common to have two naps per night. You would fall asleep for 4 to 5 hours, wake up for 2 hours or so and fall back to sleep for another 3 to 4 hours. It has been suggested that we may have evolved this sleep pattern to tend to the fire in order to keep us warm and safe.
4. One of the Vatican Popes was elected 100% by accident. In the Middle Ages, cardinals would often vote for a random candidate on the first papal ballot in order to see how the other cardinals were leaning. In 1334, this tactic backfired when they all voted for the same person. The very surprised Pope Benedict XII was elected.
5. Mansa Musa, the ruler of the 14th century Mali Empire is one of the richest person to have ever lived (Inflation adjusted). When he made his pilgrimage to Mecca, he gave away so much gold that he completely devalued the metal in each city he passed through, disrupting economies and causing inflation in Cairo, Medina, and Mecca.
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6Jewish community
During the Black Plague, the Jewish community had a lower infection risk than other populations. Among the theories, it has been suggested that Jewish religious practices promoted better health since so many of their rituals were related to hygiene. It resulted in the Jews being accused of causing the Black Death.
7. Murderers in medieval Ireland were given to the deceased's family as slaves if they failed to pay a hefty fine to buy their freedom. The family could then legally kill the murderer themselves.
8. Medieval English longbows could fire an arrow more than 300 yards and required so much strength that the skeletons of medieval archers can be identified by their enlarged left arms.
9. The Scottish army tried to take advantage of the Black Plague in England through an invasion, but caught it themselves and brought it back to Scotland, killing half of the native population.
10. The medieval Arab philosopher and skeptic Al-Ma'arri wrote that religion consisted of ancient fables used to exploit the popular masses.
