When delving into the history of the plague, our focus often gravitates toward the Black Death  (1347-1351)—this period witnessed the demise of about half of the European population within four years. However, the history of the plague is far more expansive than this singular event. There were three distinct plague pandemics, and my research will specifically delve into the second one, which encompasses the Black Death but extends beyond it. I will examine the second plague pandemic in Europe, juxtaposing the approaches of Roman Catholicism and Islam towards the plague. In essence, my research will compare the responses of western and eastern Europe during the second plague pandemic. 

My interest in this subject started because of my interest in history. I applied to the University of Ottawa for history. I had no interest in religion when using it in 2018-2019. I eventually decided to give a religion class a chance and took an atheism class. I found it quite exciting and eventually minored in religion. My interest in the topic grew larger and larger. For many of my history projects, I would have a religious topic. This led me to switch my minor to a major in religion instead of graduating in the spring of 2023, which worked perfectly for me because I could take more History of Disease and religion classes.  That enabled me to find my true passion, the religious history of plague, specifically in Europe. 

My research aims to illuminate how Europeans of the Catholic and Muslim faith responded to the second plague pandemic from the 14th to the 18th century and to use these historical experiences to guide future plagues and dire situations. This research is crucial because it underscores the continuity of human experiences and the lessons we can draw from our past.  For this project, I plan to utilize various primary sources, scholarly sources, and religious texts to ensure a comprehensive and accurate comparison. 

I am incredibly enthusiastic about this project and am eagerly looking forward to getting started. This research has the potential to shed new light on historical events and provide valuable insights for future crises. I am fully committed to this endeavour and am excited about the opportunity to work on it.