THE BUBONIC PLAGUE AND POLITICS 1340 1400 THE

THE BUBONIC PLAGUE AND POLITICS 1340 -1400

THE BUBONIC PLAGUE • The episode of the bubonic plague that took place from 1340 -1400 AD. • This episode is also known as “The Black Death. ” • It originated in Mongolia, spread through China, and then to Italy where it spread through the rest of Europe. • Between 75 million and 200 million people died as a result of the disease. • Many cities such as Pistoia, Italy enacted laws that did not allow anyone to enter the city and anyone that traveled to a plague ridden area would not be allowed back. This however did not prevent the plague from spreading.

HOW DID THE PLAGUE AFFECT POLITICS? • During the time of the bubonic plague the Church was more powerful than all the kings and queens in Europe. The pope dictated not only the church, but determined how governments were run. • People at the time thought that the plague was punishment for their sins, the fact that bishops and other church officials were also dying from the plague and that the people’s prayers weren’t working weakened the Church’s hold.

POLITICS AND THE PLAGUE • The plague caused anarchy for a period of time. • Political leaders were either dead, dying, or in hiding with their families trying to avoid the plague.

THE BIG EFFECTS… • The bubonic plague caused so many deaths that it lead to the phasing out of feudalism in most of Europe. • When a lord died the serfs left to find work elsewhere. • The lords that were left had few serfs but needed people to take of their land. • This allowed serfs to demand higher prices for their service and allowed them to keep more of their crops.

THE BIG EFFECTS CONTINUED • The death of so many people allowed kings to consolidate power and set up strong nation states that would carry Europe into the Renaissance.