2. 25 Million Dead
In 1347 a mysterious illness began to affect the Mediterranean ports of Europe.
By the time this first outbreak had subsided close to 1/3 of the human population of Europe had been killed.
The foundational structures of European society would never be the same.

3. ASK???
How much of the European population died from the Black Plague?

4. What is the Black Death?
The Bubonic Plague is a disease called Versinia Pestis.
It is carried by fleas that mainly live on black rats.
These rats normally lived in the wild and weren’t harmed by the diseased fleas.

5. ASK???
What is another name for the Black Death?

6. How did the Disease Spread?
Began in Asia during the 1330s.
First recorded case in Sicily-Trader ships docked & unloaded before they realized they were infected
Spread along sea trade routes
Within 4 years almost all of Western Europe was infected

7. ASK???
How was the disease spread?

8. European Living Conditions
The living conditions in Medieval Europe helped the rats and fleas that carried the disease to thrive.
People didn’t take baths and most were infested with lice and fleas.

9. ASK???
How would you describe the typical living conditions of Europeans?

10. Medieval Medicine? Medical knowledge at the time was very limited
Doctors of medieval times had no ideas about parasites or what diseases really were.

11. Treatments!!! Some common treatments prescribed were: Bleedings
Taking herbal pills
Breathing in the odor from latrines (seriously!!!)
Various potions and concoctions.

12. ASK???
What medical information from the Middle Ages do you think is the strangest and why?

13. Effects of the Plague Trade declined
Prices for some products actually went up as they were harder to acquire.
Populations reduced
Religion-People either lost faith or became more involved in their faith
Break down of feudalism
Anti-Semitism-Christians blamed the Jews-Many Jews were persecuted and killed

14. ASK???
What effect do you think was the most significant and why?

15. The Plague TODAY