The Late Middle Ages The Hundred Years War ( ) The Black Death ( ) Crisis in the Church (14 th & 15 th Centuries)
The Famine of Climate changes in Europe produced three years of crop failures between because of excessive rain. As many as 15% of the peasants in some English villages died. One consequence of starvation & poverty was susceptibility to disease.
1347: Plague Reaches Constantinople!
Spread of the Black Death
The Culprits Yersinia pestis Flea Black Rat
The Disease Cycle Flea drinks rat blood that carries the bacteria. Flea’s gut clogged with bacteria. Bacteria multiply in flea’s gut. Flea bites human and regurgitates blood into human wound. Human is infected!
Three Types of Plague Bubonic – Excruciatingingly painful swellings of lymph nodes (buboes) in groin area and under armpits. Vomited blood. Death usually came within 5 days. Septicemic – Attacked blood more swiftly and usually killed within 3 days. Pneumonic – Airborne when plague victims coughed or sneezed. Usually fatal within 24 hours. Almost always fatal.
The Symptoms Bulbous Septicemic Form: almost 100% mortality rate.
From the Toggenburg Bible, 1411
Attempts to Stop the Plague A Doctor’s Robe “Leeching”
Attempts to Stop the Plague Flagellanti: Self-inflicted “penance” for our sins!
Boccaccio in The Decameron The victims ate lunch with their friends and dinner with their ancestors.
What was the impact of the Black Death??
The Mortality Rate 33% - 50% of European population died 25,000,000 dead !!!
Collapse of feudalism and manoralism as labor force declined. Urban economies suffered as demand for consumer goods decreased. Peasants revolts Best of the clergy died Persecution of Jews Literature and art was pessimistic and focused on death Economic and Social Effects
Results of the Plague Pograms against the Jews “Jew” hat “Golden Circle” obligatory badge
Medieval Art & the Plague An obsession with death.
The Danse Macabre
Medieval Art & the Plague
Death Triumphant !: A Major Artistic Theme
Medieval Art & the Plague Bring out your dead!