2. The Black Death

3. Key questions There are 3 questions that will be asked during the course of the lesson; 1.What is the “Black Death”? 2.What caused the Black Death? 3.What were the consequences?

4. The plague arrives Plague arrives in Europe (Messina) from the Middle East (Kaffa)in October of 1347 (Italian Merchants) European population decline 25 to 50 percent from 1347-1351; thus, 19 to 38 million die (of 75 million)

5. Where did the Black Death come from?

6. What were the symptoms of the plague?

7. What caused the plague? The question that you are probably thinking is this; Q: Who or what caused the Black Death? A: This is your answer! The Oriental Rat Flea!

8. How was the plague transmitted? We now know that the most common form of the Black Death was the BUBONIC PLAGUE! This disease was spread by fleas which lived on the black rat.

10. Cures? Medieval people did not know about germs causing disease. They did not understand that plague was spread by rats and fleas. They thought that people’s bodies were poisoned. If the swellings burst and the poison came out people sometimes survived. It seemed sensible to draw out the poison.

11. Medieval cure number 1 The swellings should be softened with figs and cooked onions. The onions should be mixed with yeast and butter. Then open the swellings with a knife.

12. Medieval cure number 2 Take a live frog and put its belly on the plague sore. The frog will swell up and burst. Keep doing this with further frogs until they stop bursting. Some people say that a dried toad will do the job better.

13. Reactions to the Plague Life and Death: -People had no rational explanation for the plague and no way to combat it. Fear and bigotry followed the plague where ever it went setting father against son, wife against husband. - Their were many different reactions to the plague 1. Flagellants 2. Anti-Semitism 3. Eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we’ll…

14. Flagellants - Believed the Plague was sent by the devil 1. Would travel from town to town flogging themselves to gain God’s forgiveness.

16. Anti Semitism Anti Semitism Grew Throughout The Time of The Plague - Jews were accused of poisoning the water supply and brining the plague - Extermination would get rid of the plague 1. Strasbourg, Germany - Worst example 60 Jews were burned alive

17. Social and Cultural Contributions Labor shortages created better wages Fewer people allowed for social mobility (People able to climb the social ranks) An entire generation faced with death Helped break apart the feudal system

18. c