The Black Death AKA THE BUBONIC PLAGUE

Bubonic Plague  Came from China.  1 st outbreak was during the reign of the Byzantium Emperor Justinian around 570 AD. 10,000 people died a day in Constantinople.  Bubonic plague is derived from the Greek word βουβών (boo-, meaning "groin." Swollen lymph nodes (buboes).  “Ring around the Rosie” = the buboes that formed. The center turns black and is surrounded by a red rash. The “rosie” is the center of this reddish ring.  “A pocket full of posies.” = to cover the stench of dying.  “Atch chew! Atch-chew!” the unmistakable sound of a sneeze (British version).  “We all fall down.” death.

Causes  Nobody at the time knew what caused it & most people who got it died within a few days, screaming in pain. It also spread rapidly.  Some of the reasons people thought the plague started:  God’s punishment  Jews trying to kill Christians  Gases escaping from Earthquakes  The poor  Foreigners  Astrology  Fleas get it from infected blood; flea bites rat; rat bites you; people cough; disease spreads. Remember, rats like dirty places with food.  A modern minority think either anthrax or an extinct disease may have caused it instead.

Why the Plague Spreads  Europe’s population grew because of new farming techniques & increased cultivation. This caused many cities to became crowded & dirty.  Cities were not sanitary i.e. dirty river water, no sewers, no garbage service, farm animals roaming town for food, etc.  The Plague reached Sicily, by sea, in October, 1347, & spread to Europe, Arabia & the Mediterranean in less than a year. It even reached Iceland & Greenland!  It traveled westward along the Silk Road & merchant ships that carried infected rats.  About 1/2 of those that got it died in a few days.

Historical Quote  “They died by the hundreds, both day and night, and all were thrown in... ditches and covered with earth. And as soon as those ditches were filled, more were dug. And I, Agnolo di Tura... buried my five children with my own hands... And so many died that all believed it was the end of the world.”

Historical Quote  “In men & women alike it first betrayed itself by the emergence of certain tumors in the groin or armpits, some of which grew as large as a common apple, others as an egg...From the two said parts of the body this deadly disease soon began to propagate and spread itself in all directions indifferently; after which the form of the malady began to change, black spots or livid making their appearance in many cases on the arm or the thigh or elsewhere, now few and large, now minute & numerous. As the disease had been & still was an infallible token of approaching death, such also were these spots on whomsoever they showed themselves.”

Bubonic Plague Effects  It killed 1/3 to 1/2 of the population of Europe.  Areas that didn’t get it: Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands & a few isolated, mountainous areas. (see purple arrows).  It took around 150 years for Europe to rebuild.  Europe started to improve sanitation.

Bubonic Plague Effects  Distrust in the Catholic Church grew because the Church couldn’t do much. It also didn’t help their were two popes fighting for power.  The Jewish population, who lived in isolated communities, for the most part, escaped the wrath of the disease, were considered scapegoats & persecuted.  It also ended the Mongol Empire that had conquered China & much of Asia (more on this later).  Antibiotics can cure the disease today. Eastern Europe Persia MongoliaChina

The Black Death AKA THE BUBONIC PLAGUE

Bubonic Plague  Came from.  1 st outbreak was during the reign of the Byzantium Emperor Justinian around 570 AD. people died a in Constantinople.  Bubonic plague is derived from the word βουβών (boo-, meaning "groin." Swollen (buboes).  “Ring around the Rosie” = the buboes that formed. The center turns black and is surrounded by a red. The “” is the center of this reddish ring.  “A pocket full of posies.” = to cover the stench of.  “Atch chew! Atch-chew!” the unmistakable sound of a (British version).  “We all fall down.”.

Causes  Nobody at the time knew what caused it & most people who got it died within a few, in pain. It also spread rapidly.  Some of the reasons people thought the plague started:  ’s punishment  trying to kill Christians  escaping from Earthquakes  The   Fleas get it from infected ; flea bites ; rat you; people ; disease spreads. Remember, rats like places with food.  A modern think either anthrax or an extinct disease may have caused it instead.

Why the Plague Spreads  Europe’s population grew because of new techniques & increased. This caused many cities to became & dirty.  Cities were not i.e. dirty river water, no sewers, no garbage service, farm animals roaming town for food, etc.  The Plague reached, by sea, in October,, & spread to Europe, Arabia & the Mediterranean in less than a year. It even reached Iceland & !  It traveled westward along the Road & merchant that carried infected rats.  About of those that got it died in a few.

Historical Quote  “They died by the `, both day and night, and all were thrown in... and covered with earth. And as soon as those ditches were filled, more were dug. And I, Agnolo di Tura... buried my children with my own hands... And so many died that all believed it was the end of the.”

Historical Quote  “In men & women alike it first betrayed itself by the emergence of certain tumors in the or armpits, some of which grew as large as a common, others as an egg...From the two said parts of the body this deadly disease soon began to propagate and itself in all directions indifferently; after which the form of the malady began to change, spots or livid making their appearance in many cases on the arm or the thigh or elsewhere, now few and large, now minute &. As the disease had been & still was an infallible token of approaching, such also were these spots on whomsoever they showed themselves.”

Bubonic Plague Effects  It killed to of the population of Europe.  Areas that didn’t get it:,, the & a few, mountainous areas. (see purple arrows).  It took around years for Europe to.  Europe started to improve.

Bubonic Plague Effects  in the Catholic Church grew because the Church couldn’t do much. It also didn’t help their were two for power.  The population, who lived in isolated communities, for the most part, escaped the wrath of the disease, were considered scapegoats &.  It also ended the Empire that had conquered China & much of Asia (more on this later).  can cure the disease today. Eastern Europe Persia MongoliaChina