Prophecies Of Nostradamus example essay topic

Knowing the future has always been a dream of man but for Nostradamus it was reality. Nostradamus has successfully predicted over 900 historical events, and even more have yet to be fulfilled. He has predicted such things as the defeat of Napoleon, the rise of Nazi power in Germany, and even the end of the world. Nostradamus was born Michael de Nostra dame on December 14, 1503 in St. Remy France. He lived in a small poor family which did not have enough money to provide for him and his 4 brothers. Trying the best to give their son a decent life, his parents were forced to send him to live with his grandfather.

At the young age of seven Nostradamus intellect began to show. With his grandfathers influence, he learned the basics of Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Mathematics, and astrology (Cheetham, a, 62). After his grandfathers death he was sent to Avignon to study. Soon after, he was forced to leave because of his radical ideas, such as the world circled the sun, and his parents had no other choice but to send him to the University of Montpelier. There he studied medicines for three years and through a grueling three hour oral exam, he received his bachelors degree (Byers, 433). After graduating, he found a cure for the bubonic plague.

He cured entire towns at a time with his herbal remedies. By 1525, at the age of 22, he was a celebrated figure throughout Europe. His book Le Tracie Des Far demers which contained all of his prescriptions, was used as standard for doctors all over Europe (Cheetham, b, 192). After 4 years of traveling he returned to the University Of Montpelier to receive his doctorate. 5 years of studying and 3 months of exams later he graduated, and began a job at the university. But had to re sig because of a dispute with his co-workers.

(Cheetham, b, 194) With no where to go he began to wander through Europe, again. Two years later he found himself in Toulouse, curing more plague victims, when he received a letter from Julius Caesar Scaliger, one of the greatest philosophers of his time. The letter asked Nostradamus to come stay with him at his house in Agen. Two months later, while still living in Agen, he married a young women of high estate, whos name is unknown.

Together they had two children, whos names are also unknown. Nostradamus life seemed completed, but nothing could have prepared him for what had came next. (Cheetham, 66) The excessive rainfall had caused floods throughout France, which spread the plague to Agen. Nostradamus tried everything he could do, but he could not save his wife and children. From there his life slowly began to fall apart, he fought with Scaliger which cost him a friendship and even more importantly a house. His in-laws tried to sue him for the death of his wife.

The church authorities were after him for making inappropriate comments towards a statue of Mary. Probably the worst of it all was that the people look upon him with scorn, they figured if he could not save his own family how could he save them. Now a fugitive from the church, Nostradamus began to wander, yet again (Cheetham, a, 68). During his wanderings his prophetic powers began to show. He was stopped by a man on the street who had heard of him, the man asked Nostradamus to put his powers to the test. Nostradamus pointed to the mans pigs, he said that the white one would be eaten by a wolf and the black would be served for dinner.

Immediately the man had the white one ordered to be cooked for dinner, but as the cook was preparing it, a tame wolf, belonging to one of the servants wandered in and stole the prepared white pig from the table. The frantic cook hurriedly killed the black pig and served it. Half way through the meal the cook confessed to the man what had happen, proving Nostradamus was right. (Cheetham, 69) Nostradamus hid from the church authorities for six years until the plague began to spread again, and with all the doctors fleeing, towns were left to die with no one to help. Seeing this Nostradamus sprung into action first appearing in Marseilles, were he developed a vaccine made from rose petals, that would keep the disease from spreading.

In less than a month he had single handily cured the plague from France. He was once again a celebrated figure throughout Europe (Cheetham, a, 73). With the plague beginning to disappear he settled down in the little town of Salon, there he married a rich widow, and began to write his prophecies. For the remainder of his life he would spend most of his time staring at a bowl of water, supposedly seeing the future. With this method he has predicted over 1,000 historical events, some have already happened, some have yet to come, and even some we hope never happen. (Cheetham, b, 201).

Nostradamus was many things, an astrologer, a doctor, and a scholar. But one of the few things that he wasnt, was immortal, and in 1655, at the age of 52, Nostradamus died in Salon. But his prophecies have lived on for hundreds of years, where we still read and enjoy them today. Byers, Paula K. Nostradamus Encyclopedia of World Biography. New York, 1998, pg. 432-434. Cheetham, Erika (a).

The Further Prophecies of Nostradamus. New York; Berkley Publishing Group, 1985. - (b) The Man Who Saw Tomorrow: The Prophecies of Nostradamus. New york; Berkley Publishing Group, 1981.