The Black Death

In 1347, a ship entered the port of Messina The Black Death Begins In 1347, a ship entered the port of Messina All crew were infected or dead The disease was spread by fleas that fed off of rats

The plague was highly contagious Signs and Symptoms The plague was highly contagious Most common form of the plague was called the Bubonic plague (Flea: 30-75 mortality%) Pneumonic (Airborne:90-95% mortality) Septicemic (Flea: 100% mortality)

Fever (101-105 degrees Fahrenheit) Dark spots under the skin Symptoms Fever (101-105 degrees Fahrenheit) Dark spots under the skin This was blood under the skin Inflamed lymph nodes Bumps on neck, abdomen and armpits Bacteria

Efforts to stop the Plague In Milan, families were walled up in their houses Venice sent incoming ships to a separate island Pope Clement VI, living in Avignon would sit between two large fires

Unattended crops and animals died Lawlessness Effects on the Economy Unattended crops and animals died Lawlessness Many workers died, so other skilled laborers demanded better pay

At this time there were two popes (France and the Vatican) Effects on Religion At this time there were two popes (France and the Vatican) Some church officials promised cures Monasteries were hit hard because they would try to help

Medieval Cures 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. 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. How useful do you think these medieval cures actually were? Did they help at all or were they more harmful?

Nursery Rhyme Ring a-round the rosy Pocket full of posies Ashes, ashes! We all fall down! This was a common nursery rhyme at the time of the Plague

Ring around the rosy: a reference to rosary beads used while praying Ring around the rosy: a reference to rosary beads used while praying. A pocket full of posies: used to stop the odor of rotting bodies which was at one point thought to cause the plague. It was also used widely by doctors to protect them from the infected plague patients. Ashes, ashes: the church burned the dead when burying them became to laborious. We all fall down: dead.

Lasting effects of the Plague Between 1347-1352, 25 million people died in Europe About 25%-33% of the population Disease was not totally eradicated until 19th century The name of the bacteria was Yersinia Pestis

United Streaming Video Questions 1. How long did it take the population of Europe to recover? 2. How long did it usually take someone to die? 3. Caffa was a port on what sea? 4. What was the most famous form of penance (showing sorrow for sinning)? 5. Who was blamed for the plague? 6. What fraction of Europe did the video say died? 7. What war was taking place between England and France before, during and after the plague? 8. How did feudalism change due to the plague?

Answers 150 years 2. 3-5 days 3. Black Sea 4. Pilgrimage 5. Jews, accused of poisoning water 6. ½ 7. Hundred Years War 8. Feudalism decreased, some lords paid cash, farming became too risky, rented lands to free men