The Black Death

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The Black Death
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Key questions

• There are 3 questions that will be asked during
  the course of the lesson
• 1. What is the Black Death?
• 2. What caused the Black Death?
• 3. What were the consequences?

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The plague arrives

• Plague arrives in Europe (Messina) from the
  Middle East (Kaffa)in October of 1347 (Italian
  Merchants)
• European population decline 25 to 50 percent from
  1347-1351 thus, 19 to 38 million die (of 75
  million)

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Where did the Black Death come from?
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What were the symptoms of the plague?
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What caused the plague?

• The question that you are probably thinking is
  this
• Q Who or what caused the Black Death?
• A This is your answer!

The Oriental Rat Flea!
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How was the plague transmitted?

• We now know that the most common form of the
  Black Death was the BUBONIC PLAGUE! This disease
  was spread by fleas which lived on the black rat.

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Cures?

• Medieval people did not know about germs causing
  disease. They did not understand that plague was
  spread by rats and fleas. They thought that
  peoples bodies were poisoned.
• If the swellings burst and the poison came out
  people sometimes survived. It seemed sensible to
  draw out the poison.

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Medieval cure number 1

• The swellings should be softened with figs and
  cooked onions. The onions should be mixed with
  yeast and butter. Then open the swellings with a
  knife.

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Medieval cure number 2

• Take a live frog and put its belly on the plague
  sore. The frog will swell up and burst. Keep
  doing this with further frogs until they stop
  bursting. Some people say that a dried toad will
  do the job better.

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Reactions to the Plague

• Life and Death
• -People had no rational explanation for the
  plague and no way to combat it. Fear and bigotry
  followed the plague where ever it went setting
  father against son, wife against husband.
• - Their were many different reactions to the
  plague
• 1. Flagellants
• 2. Anti-Semitism
• 3. Eat drink and be merry for tomorrow well

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Flagellants
- Believed the Plague was sent by the devil
1. Would travel from town to town flogging
themselves to gain Gods forgiveness.

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Anti Semitism
Anti Semitism Grew Throughout The Time of The
Plague - Jews were accused of poisoning the
water supply and brining the plague
- Extermination would get rid of the plague
1. Strasbourg, Germany - Worst example
60 Jews were burned
alive
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Social and Cultural Contributions

• Labor shortages created better wages
• Fewer people allowed for social mobility (People
  able to climb the social ranks)
• An entire generation faced with death
• Helped break apart the feudal system
• Ring Around the Rosie

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