1. The Bubonic Plague: Yersinia Pestis
(The Black Death)

2. The Black Death (Bubonic Plague)

3. Origins of the Plague
Began in Asia (the Mongols) and traveled through trade routes to the Middle East and eventually Europe
Battle at Kaffa
Hit Sicily first (1347) – Boat of Dead People Arrives

5. The Plague Strikes
During the an epidemic struck parts of Asia, North Africa, and Europe
Approximately 1/3 of the population of Europe died from this disease. (approx. 20 million people) (25 million in China)
Ripped communities and families apart
Pope Clement VI- Leadership Issues
Dramatically Decreased Trade

6. Many scholars think that the nursery rhyme “Ring around the Rosy” was written about the symptoms of the Black Death.
This charming rhyme still recited by children today dates back to the London Plague of The “ring of roses” describes the red buboes around the neck of an infected person (swollen lymph nodes); “posies” refers to the herbs or flowers that people carried in their pockets to breathe hoping it would protect them from the disease; “at-choo” refers to a sneeze which was the sign of coming illness. “All fall down” describes the suddenness of death from what is today called “Black Death” or Bubonic Plague.

8. Effects of the Bubonic Plague
Increased Wages
Prices rose (inflation)
Serfs left manors
Jews were blamed (increased anti- Semitism)
The church lost power
European Renaissance?

13. What have we learned?