THE BLACK DEATH

THE PLAGUE IN MEDIEVAL EUROPE

THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM A period of prosperity 1000-1250

Population growth: 25 million (10th c.) to 75 million (mid 13th c.)

Favourable weather

Agricultural and technological innovations New crops 3 field planting A new harness for horses Food surplus

Political stability The problem by 1300 = overpopulation

CRISES PRIOR TO THE BLACK DEATH1. Environmental shift 1200- 1350

The Little Ice Age (temperature drop of 1.5 degrees) Frozen waterways (no longer able to fish Herring) Crop failure (rotting in the fields because too much

precipitation) Loss of marginal lands due to flooding Famines 1315-1317 continent wide, due to the lack of

surplus food to feed the great population (especially in the cities)

2. Financial and Economic changes Closing trade routes to the East Banking crisis in Italy

3. European Conflicts Italians and Germans Peasants rebellions Hundred Years War

Results of crises Europeans in 14th c. were:

Starving Without financial means to support themselves Constantly facing threats of armed conflicts

They are now VERY VULNERABLE!!!

THE BLACK DEATH 1347-1351 Killed ¼ to 1/3 of Europe’s population Entry into Europe through the East and the Mediterranean

Traveled from Gobi Desert to Mongolia into China As the Mongols moved the infected rats traveled with them. 1330-1346: Moved West through trade and sea routes from China Sept 1345: Crimea 1347: Constantinople Fall 1347: Alexandria, Egypt (750 dead/day) 1347- 1348: Engulfed Islamic world (1/3 of population died, 40-50% in cities) Oct 1347: reached Sicily Dec 1347: Raged through Italy and Southern Europe 1347-1348: Reached Northern Italian cities 1348: France Fall 1348: England 1350: Most of Northern Europe and Russia

THREE TYPES OF PLAGUE

1. BUBONIC

2. PNEUMONIC

3. SEPTICAEMIC

1- Bubonic Plague

most common Six day incubation period Transmitted by fleas: Y-pestis bacilli found in their

digestive tract Symptoms:

Blackish pustule at bite enlargements of the lymph nodes in armpits, groin or neck Purplish blotches called buboes

60 % of victims died

PNEUMONIC Less common (only occurs when there is a

sharp temperature drop and infection moves into the lungs)

Transmitted from person to person by coughing up blood containing Y-pestis bacilli

2 to 3 day incubation period 95%-100% fatal

SEPTICAEMIC Least common Also transmitted by fleas Y-pestis bacilli enter the bloodstream of

victims Rash forms in 1 day and death rapidly

follows (before buboes can form) Always fatal

EPIDEMIC AND PANDEMIC Epidemic disease: affecting many

individuals at the same time, and spreading from person to person in a locality where the disease is not permanently prevalent

Pandemic disease: a linked series that strike in cyclic fashion. Plague returned throughout 14th century (every 6 to 20 years).

LABOURERS VS LANDOWNERS

Pre-plague: Europe’s population had dramatically increased in the 13 th c. and was becoming overpopulated by 1300.

Would it have been easy to get a good job? Where do you think the majority of people would have worked in the 14 th c.? With a great number of people all going after a smaller number of agricultural jobs, what

kind of control do you think the bosses would have over the workers? Post-plague: Huge decline in the population. What would this population decline do to the labour market? Now that there are fewer people than jobs available what can landowners do to attract

workers? What will workers demand from landowners? How do you think landowners will feel about paying the workers more? What do you think the landowners could do to lower wages?

– Government and land extensive What responses will the workers have to reduce their wages back to pre-Black Death

wages?

LUXURIES

Salt and spices were considered more valuable then gold in the 14th c.

Why would people following the Black Death have been willing to spend their money on such luxuries?– Do they have more money?– How would the mental effects of the Black Death

effect their wants and desire?– How would fear of Death effect their purchases?

SOCIOECONOMIC EFFECTS OF THE BLACK DEATH

Fewer workers = more jobs = higher pay More buying of luxuries:

– Less people in families to share inheritance– People scared could die at any time

MEDIEVAL BELIEFSMEDIEVAL BELIEFS

In order to understand why some In order to understand why some medieval people thought that putting medieval people thought that putting their head in a latrine was a good their head in a latrine was a good idea, you need to understand the idea, you need to understand the superstitious beliefs of those living in superstitious beliefs of those living in the 14the 14thth c. c.

This period was a time when “life This period was a time when “life was nasty, brutish and short” was nasty, brutish and short”

MEDIEVAL BELIEFS MEDIEVAL BELIEFS

The Earth is the centre of the universe.The Earth is the centre of the universe. Witches existed.Witches existed. Alchemy was possible (a science that tried Alchemy was possible (a science that tried

to change baser metals into gold and to to change baser metals into gold and to make a compound that would cure all make a compound that would cure all diseases and extend life indefinitely – Elixir diseases and extend life indefinitely – Elixir of Life)of Life)

Astrology was a guiding force of the Astrology was a guiding force of the universe.universe.

THEORIES OF WHAT CAUSED THEORIES OF WHAT CAUSED THE PLAGUETHE PLAGUE

1.1. Unusual planetary conjunction that released poisonous vapours Unusual planetary conjunction that released poisonous vapours According to the university of ParisAccording to the university of Paris Intellectual theoryIntellectual theory Idea that air and water infectedIdea that air and water infected

2.2. God is angry because not religious or holy enough/ too sinful.God is angry because not religious or holy enough/ too sinful.3.3. Minorities accused of poisoning the wellsMinorities accused of poisoning the wells

Lepers (suffer from skin diease)Lepers (suffer from skin diease) Suspected witchesSuspected witches JewsJews

Most common scapegoatsMost common scapegoats God angry because letting them live in Christian areasGod angry because letting them live in Christian areas Spurred on by Flagellants (group of fanatics that went from town to town flogging Spurred on by Flagellants (group of fanatics that went from town to town flogging

themselves) who encouraged inhabitants to exterminate Jews as a way of ending God’s themselves) who encouraged inhabitants to exterminate Jews as a way of ending God’s angeranger

Massacred, slaughtered, burnedMassacred, slaughtered, burned 300 communities in Holy Roman Empire annihilated300 communities in Holy Roman Empire annihilated By 1351: 350 separate massacredBy 1351: 350 separate massacred

EFFECTS ON MEDIEVAL EFFECTS ON MEDIEVAL PSYCHEPSYCHE

1.1. Doubting the ChurchDoubting the Church► Shook confidence in the ChurchShook confidence in the Church► Couldn’t get God’s assistance for the peopleCouldn’t get God’s assistance for the people► Even clergy dying of PlagueEven clergy dying of Plague

2.2. Obsession with DeathObsession with Death► Physical death became closer, presence of Physical death became closer, presence of

sudden painful deathsudden painful death► Pessimism/preoccupation with deathPessimism/preoccupation with death► Leads to fascination with death because daily Leads to fascination with death because daily

sight in the streetssight in the streets► Elaborate funerals and single gravesElaborate funerals and single graves► Mood of decay and death in artMood of decay and death in art