THE BLACK DEATH IN 14TH CENTURY EUROPE

Carulmare “Unknown Master”, January 21, 2008 via Flickr Creative Commons Attribution.

What was the Black Death? Nickname for 14th century Bubonic

Plague

Killed 25 million people

London: 1 of 5 residents died.

Causes of the Plague

Today:

Scientists have found the plague originated in China.

Rats and fleas were main vessels.

Michael Hodge “Unknown Rat”, July 13, 2007 via Flickr Creative Commons Attribution

Anna Kelly “Microscope Flea”, September 16, 2008 via Flickr Creative Commons Attribution

Causes Continued

During 14th century Europe:

People were in close contact.

Were not as hygienic as today.

Causes Continued

The disease also:Was being spread through medieval trade

routes.Mainly on infected sailors.

What the People Believed Today we know what caused the

disease.

But people living this time period thought very differently.

Some reasons were: Jews, Religion, and Cats.

Their Reasons

JewsChristian People:

○ Believed that Jews were the cause of the plague.

Some Jews even confessed to poisoning water wells.○ They were sentenced to death.

Sharon Mollerus, “Virgin in Lament” March 11, 2009 via Flickr Creative Commons.

Their Reasons Continued

The BibleThis usually revolved around Christian

beliefs.

According to Biblical stories:○ Plagues were usually sent to punish people

for their sins.○ Wrath of God.

Their Reasons Continued

CatsPeople believed that cats were evil.

So household cats were killed.

This meant that the rat population grew.

Preventative Measures

Flower PetalsBelief was to carry around flower petals.

Scent was thought to keep plague away.

Ring around the Rosy

Preventative Measures Continued Doctors believed bad smells could drive

away plague.

Treatments included: Dung and Urine.

Preventative Measures Continued People were also told to:

Be happy and avoid bad thoughts.

Drink “good” wine.

Avoid eating fruits.

Preventative Measures Continued Other Measures Included:

Put nice smelling herbs in drinks.

Avoid lechery (adultery).

Do not abuse the poor.

Maintain household according to status.

Preventative Measures Continued Bathing was even discouraged.

It was seen as a sign of vanity

Believed to open pores○ Easier for “bad air” to enter and exit body.

Conclusion

The Black Death killed millions of people.

History was gory.

Marked a turning point for the Renaissance Period.

Citations Wikipedia.org: Peck, Michael S, & Prelas, Mark Antonio;

“Nonproliferation Issues for Weapons of Mass Destruction” P.6, 2005.

http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/health-and-human-body/human-diseases/plague-article.html

www.boisestate.edu/courses/westciv/plague/04.shtml www.allabouthistory.org/history-of-black-death.htm http://facts.randomhistory.com/2009/06/09-black-death.html