1. The Black Death
, 1361

2. The Black Death, 1347-1351 Preconditions
Food Shortages (1310s) lead to death, disease, and malnutrition
Concentration of populations in cities and towns
International Trade
Progress of disease
Asian origins: Caffa on Black Sea Nov-Dec 1347
To Mediterranean by end of December
Clockwise spiral through 1348 to 1350

3. Spread of the Plague Three varieties spread by fleas on black rats
Bubonic: Percent Die in 3-4 Days
Pneumonic: Percent Die in 1-2 Days
Septicaemic: Percent Die in 1 Day
Caused by poor sanitation in cities
Interpersonal contact and infection

4. Spread of the Plague

5. The Black Death (continued)
Results:
30-40 % of population died
Groups Affected: young, old, poor, & most cities (Venice, Florence, Genoa, Paris)
Villages and towns disappear: 40,000 in Germany by 1450 (24 % of pre-plague total)
Medical “care” via trial and (much) error
Medical training theoretical rather than practical

8. The Black Death (continued)
Results:
30-40 % of population decimated
Groups Affected: young, old, poor, & urban (examples: Venice, Genoa, Paris)
Villages and towns disappear: 40,000 in Germany by 1450 (24 % of pre-plague total)
Medical “care” via trial and (much) error
Recurrences
6 more outbreaks by 1406
Comes back again till late 17th century
European population down 75 % by 1450

9. The Black Death: Short-term Impact
Profound psychological uncertainty
Life seen as cheap
Adoption of extreme attitudes: hedonism and asceticism
Seach for scapegoats

10. Hedonism: Portrayal in Boccaccio’s The Decameron (1351)

11. Flagellants
Flagellants were groups of Christians who subjected themselves to ritualized whipping as atonement for sin.
Low Countries and Germany,
Attack priests and Jews
In 1349, the Church declared the flagellants were heretics.

12. Scapegoats: Image of Jews Poisoning Wells

13. Result: Persecution of Jews

14. Intermediate Impact: Economic Change and Rebellions
Social Dislocations on Farms and in Cities
Wages increase
High demand for luxury goods
Rent not dues
French Jacquerie, 1358
Rural terrorism
Urban Revolts: Ciompi, 1378
English Peasants’ Revolt, 1381

15. Long-Term Impacts of Plague
Family structure: men marry younger
Gendering of the workplace
General obsession with death
Ars moriendi
Human/people centered
L’danse macabre or the Totentanz

16. Dancing with Death

17. Dancing with Death

18. Long-Term Impacts of Plague
Family structure: men marry younger
Gendering of the workplace
Generalized obsession with death
Sermons, Wills, “Ring Around the rosy”
Ars moriendi: preoccupation with death in art
L’danse macabre or the Totentanz
Leveling of Society
Human/People Centered
Emancipation of the peasantry