Medieval Times The Bubonic Plague Sharon Arnold West

Medieval Times: The Bubonic Plague Sharon Arnold West Middle School Binghamton City School District Arnolds@binghamtonschools. org

Follow the Steps to the GHPPA to help you analyze the problem! Step 1: Identify the Problem Step 2: Gather Evidence Step 3: Determine the Causes

What caused the Bubonic Plague? • The Bubonic Plague is caused by the bacterium, Yersinia pestis, a bacillus with incredible killing power. One bacillus alone is enough to infect a human.

What was the Black Plague? • The Black Plague was a terrible disease that struck Western Europe many times during the late Middle Ages. • Rats with infested fleas helped to carry the disease from continent to continent, city to city on trading ships.

The Spread of the Plague The Europeans were exposed to disease because they lived in crowded surroundings with very poor sanitary conditions…which attracted RATS!

• Shortly after being bitten by a flea from a rat, people would notice swellings and black bruises on their skin. • In a few days victims died in agony. • There was no cure for this disease in the 1300 s. • Over 75 million people were killed!

Ring Around the Rosie… “Today, young children enjoy playing “Ring Around the Rosie. ” But to those who first sang it, the rhyme was anything but playful. ” “The song actually describes the deadly bubonic plague. ” • "Ring around the Rosie"--refers to a red mark, supposedly the first sign of the plague • "A pocket full of posies"-- refers to sachets of herbs carried to ward off infection • "Ashes, ashes" --either a reference to the cremation of plague victims or to the words said in the funeral Mass. . . "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. " Sometimes line three is rendered as "A-tischoo, atischoo"--sneezing, another sign of infection. • "We all fall down. " -- The Plague was not selective in its victims; both rich and poor, young and old, succumbed.

Results of the Black Plague: Economic & Social changes • People fled the cities and towns for the countryside. • Government had less money because fewer people paid taxes. • Decrease in population brought increase demand for workers and higher pay. • Less people needed food and farmers’ income became low. They started to revolt against the king and nobles. • Some people resorted to magic and witchcraft, while others questioned their catholic faith.

Evaluate the Policy • Follow the steps to the GHPPA to help you analyze the economic and social changes that resulted from the Black Plague. Scenario: It is the year 1375 A. D. about 25 years since the worst of the Black Death has ended. Looking back on Europe, you will examine the problem of the Black Death (as well as the evidence of it and causes). Then you will examine the economic and social changes that have occurred since then.

The Black Death Cartoon Project Directions: • Create a cartoon strip (comic) of at least FIVE boxes that show a story of what you know about the BLACK DEATH. • In your cartoon, your boxes must explain what is going on around you. • You must include: – – – Who is affected? Family members? Friends? How do you feel about the Black Death? What do you see? What do you smell? What are you doing to stop this? What were some of THE ECONOMIC & SOCIAL CHANGES THAT OCCURRED due to the Black Death? ? ?

Check out these sites to help you with your project… • http: //www. schoolhistory. co. uk/games/fling/ plague/index. shtml • http: //medievaleurope. mrdonn. org/plague. ht ml • http: //www. historyforkids. org/learn/science/ medicine/plague. htm • http: //www. historyforkids. org/learn/medieval /history/highmiddle/plague. htm