THE BLACK DEATH 1348 52 Black Death Bubonic

THE BLACK DEATH 1348 -52

Black Death – Bubonic Plague The Black Death was a disease that became a pandemic (a wide spread disease not limited to a specific area) that ravaged Europe in the 14 th century. While it was commonly referred to as the Plague, it was not simply one disease. The Black Death was actually three separate diseases; The Bubonic Plague, Pneumonic Plague

The Spread The disease originated in Asia and was brought to Europe via Merchant shipping and the Silk Road (an overland trade route linking Asia and Europe that sprouted up during the crusades)

How did it arrive? The disease was transported to Europe on merchant ships and wagons. The infected rats would get mixed in with the cargos and be transported all over the known world. When the ships/wagons reached port/cities the rats would disembark and bring the disease with them.

so how did the illness transfer to humans… Once the rats reached port they would exit the ships. The fleas that rats often carried would also harbour the disease. When the fleas left the rat and bit an individual the disease would be transferred.

Fleas on Rats…Fleas on Rats https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=r. Zy 6 Xil. XDZ Q

Did everyone need to be bitten by a flea to contract the disease? No, while flea bites were what caused the disease, it was also partially airborne through droplets of saliva and mucus. (Coughing and sneezing could spread the disease).

What were the symptoms? Symptoms of the Black Death include: Fever Nausea Coughing up phlegm and blood Bloody Nose Swelling in armpits, neck and groin (egg size) Black/Purple spots all over body

How fast did it spread? The Plague started in southern Italy in 134748 and in about 3 years had effected most of Western Europe.

Medieval Plague Remedies were usually a mixture of classical medicine and religious beliefs. Some examples are: Blood Letting Sleeping on your back Lance the boils Quarantine Vinegar Herbal remedies Some ideas went so far as: Inhaling toilet fumes Drinking molten gold Rubbing precious jewels across the body

Ring Around the Roses (pg 28)

So, how did this affect the Feudal System? Pg. 24 - 25 – Challenges to the Feudal System & The Black Death Skill Power – Cause & Effect Chart Discussion Serfs Freeman Feudalism

Impact of the Plague (Take these down) By 1352 the plague had ravaged all of Western Europe. 1. Population Decrease - Estimates of the population drop range anywhere from 33% to 50% or 25 -40 million people. 2. Labour Shortages - The plague had killed so many peasants that there was no one to work. With no one to work, grain and other crops were not being produced. Not only was there no money to be made with no crops but also no food! (starvation).

Impact of the Plague 3. Questioning Faith - Why would God allow this to happen? This in-turn started to weaken the Power of the Church. (Pg. 29 - 34)

Impact of the Plague 4. Racial Discrimination – Minority groups (Jews & Muslims) were believed to have instigated the plague. This caused increased discrimination against minority groups.

Aka… things were a mess…. But!! Pg. 27 Wealth in Society

A new order…The Middle Class! Because of the decrease in population, for the first time, people were able to acquire more wealth and skills and move UP the social ladder!!! MIDDLE CLASS

Table 1. 13 Textbook pg 27 Middle Class TOP LEVEL Aristocracy/Nobility MIDDLE LEVEL: Middle Class BOTTOM LEVEL: Lower class High Church Officials Merchants or businesspeople Peasants Rulers or lords of large manors (Barons) Craftspeople (guilds) Rural Labourers Old noble families Shopkeepers Urban Laborers Wealthy merchants Bankers Servants Priests and lower church officials Unemployed

SUMPTUARY LAWS Status became based on MONEY rather than LAND!! - (BYE Feudalism) People became focused on material possession and displaying wealth

SUMPTUARY LAWS Spending money on clothing, home goods, and meals were getting so extravagant, Europe introduced sumptuary laws – law restricting what people of certain classes could wear – esp colours!