The Black Death

Black Plague hits Europe

Produced by Mr. Markowski

“Ring Around the Rosies”: A Plague Chant!!!!

• Ring around the rosies

• A pocket full of posies

• Achoo! Achoo!

• We all fall down.

Medieval Artist’s Painting of the Plague

Disaster Strikes• Estimated population of Europe from

1000 to 1352. 1000 38 million 1100 48 million 1200 59 million 1300 70 million 1347 75 million 1352 50 million

Path of the Plague

The CulpritsThe Culprits

Black Rats brought the plague from Asia

Fleas on Rats Carried the Plague

The Plague Cycle

The Plague Struck All Social Levels

Three Types of Plague• Bubonic--most common; last

about 1 week

• Pneumonic--infected lungs; last about 2 days

• Septicaemic--gets into bloodstream; last just hours

Bubonic Plague• Most common

form• Buboes = enlarged

lymphatic glands• Fever, vomiting,

headaches, etc.• 1-7 days to appear• Mortality rate: 30-

75%

Buboes

Pneumonic Form• Second most

common

• Infected the lungs

• Coughing up blood

• Mortality Rate: 90-95%

Medieval Art & the Medieval Art & the PlaguePlague

Bring out your dead!

Septicaemic Form

• Most rare form

• Blood directly infected

• Skin turns deep purple or black; high fever

• Die same day you get it

• Mortality Rate: close to 100%

Theories on How the Plague Spread

• Religious Theory: God spread it as punishment

• Death From Space Theory: Earth passed through a space cloud

• Trade Route Theory: started on the coasts and spread inland

Fighting the Plague• Clean up

• Isolate the Sick & the Dead

• “Religious” Remedies

• “Medical” Remedies

• “Escape” to the Countryside

Attempts to Stop the Attempts to Stop the PlaguePlague

Flagellanti:Self-inflicted “penance” for our

sins!

Attempts to Stop the Attempts to Stop the PlaguePlaguePograms against the

Jews

“Jew” hat

“Golden Circle” obligatory badge

Medieval Medicine

Plague “Doctor”

Quack! Quack!

Death Triumphant !:Death Triumphant !:A Major Artistic A Major Artistic

ThemeTheme

Early Germ Warfare

•Bodies of Plague victims were catapulted into enemy camps to spread the disease

The Dance of Death

Plague Outbreaks Occur Until 1670

Results of the Black Death on Europe

• At least 1/3 of the population of Europe was dead by 1350 (more outbreaks occur until 1670 but never as severe)

• Economic Problems: Feudal System failing– Example: What happens when # of workers

goes down?

• Peasant Revolts

Population Chart of Europe: 1000-1700

Why did the Black Plague vanish by 1670?

• Better housing and hygiene

• Brown rats overrun the Black rats

• New bacteria gives some immunity