The Black Death World History April 12, 2014
What is the “Bubonic Plague?” Bubonic plague is a bacterial disease It enters through the skin and travels through the lymphatics Kills about 50% of those infected within three days
How Did the Plague Spread? Spread from Asia into Europe Trade, war, and contact between the civilizations Traced back to fleas who were carried on rats Dirty conditions Tight living quarters Ships between countries
How the Plague Was Transmitted Flea drinks rat blood that carries the bacteria Bacteria multiply in the flea’s gut Gut gets clogged with bacteria Flea bites the human, regurgitates blood into open wound Human is infected
Symptoms of the Plague
“Bring out your dead!”
Curing the Plague Plague doctors were hired by cities and towns to cure the plague Treated all people Rich & Poor Tried many different remedies Religion Leeching Bloodletting Urine baths Human-made“Paste”
The Plague’s Effect on Europe Population decrease Economic downfall People left the church Many abandoned their families Increased violence