Black DeathBubonic Plague

The Black Death Bacterial infection Fleas are host Fleas live on rats Rats on ships Ships dock in Asia…

the origin Spread to Europe

The Culprit

Why so severe? Pre-existing factors 1315 to 1322 a catastrophic famine struck

all of Northern Europe…cold? Wheat, oats, hay and consequently

livestock were all in short supply Scarcity resulted in hunger and malnutrition Human vulnerability to disease due to

weakened immunity

How it went down… 1347, a fleet of trading ships

from Genoa reached the port in Italy

By the time the fleet reached port, all the crew members were either infected or dead

Some ships were found grounded on shorelines, with no one aboard remaining alive

Looting of these lost ships also helped spread the disease

From there, the plague spread to Genoa and Venice by 1348

Bubonic plague Black Death Yersinia pestis Bacteria No antibiotics

Pandemic Epidemic that crosses borders Affects millions

Flagellant Whip self “Suffer” to show

devotion to Catholicism

Maybe, one would be spared

Effect? Changes social structure…social mobility,

feudal system breaks down Serious blow to Europe's predominant religious

institution, the Christian Church Questioned church…faithful died alongside

sinners Widespread persecution of minorities such as

Jews (died less from it), lepers, those with psoriasis, mentally ill

Radicalism in Catholic Church…Flagellants