By:Pojer Edited:DiLissio

The CulpritsThe Culprits

Yersinia Pestis

The Disease The Disease CycleCycle

Flea drinks rat blood that carries the

bacteria.

Flea drinks rat blood that carries the

bacteria.

Flea’s gut cloggedwith bacteria.

Flea’s gut cloggedwith bacteria.

Bacteriamultiply inflea’s gut.

Bacteriamultiply inflea’s gut.

Flea bites human and regurgitates blood into human wound.

Flea bites human and regurgitates blood into human wound.

Human is infected!Human is infected!

1335: Merchant 1335: Merchant ships traveling from ships traveling from

China arrived in China arrived in Europe. On the ships, Europe. On the ships,

lived infected rats.lived infected rats.

The The SymptomsSymptoms

Buboes

Septicemic Form

Pneumonic Form attacks

the lungs

TreatmentTreatmentLeft untreated, bubonic plague bacteria can quickly multiply in the bloodstream, causing septicemic plague, or even progress to the lungs, causing pneumonic plague.

Today, antibiotics are prescribed.

Treatment in the Treatment in the Middle Ages:Middle Ages:

“Leeching”

“Lancing”

Treatment in the Treatment in the Middle Ages:Middle Ages:

Superstition & Magic: Perfumes, vinegar, and

special potions were made to “ward off” the disease

Giving Money

to the Chruch

Attempts to Stop the Attempts to Stop the PlaguePlague

Self-FlagellationWhipping oneself as “penance”

for sins!

Attempts to Stop the Attempts to Stop the PlaguePlaguePograms against the Jews:

Many were banished or killed

“Golden Circle” obligatory badge

The Black Death The Black Death Couldn’t Be Couldn’t Be Stopped!Stopped!

By 1347, By 1347, 25,000,000 had died 25,000,000 had died

(approx. 1/3 of (approx. 1/3 of Europe’s Europe’s

population!)population!)

Bring out your dead!

The Plague would The Plague would change life in Europe…change life in Europe…

Medieval Art BEFORE Medieval Art BEFORE the Plague the Plague

Death ArrivesDeath Arrives

Medieval Art AFTER the Medieval Art AFTER the PlaguePlague

Medieval Art: Medieval Art: ThemesThemes

Feudal Class makes no difference

Decreased faith in the Church

How Life Changed, How Life Changed, cont.cont.

Peasants demanded Higher pay because There were so few ofThem left. When lords

Refused, peasants Left the manors.

Feudalism was crumbling!

What can we learn from the mistakes made

in Europe during the

Black Plague?

Credits:Select Photos & Animations by Susan Pojer

Edited by M. DiLissio

Research from www.medicenet.org