Scribd
Upload
89 views21 pages

Black Plague Teaching Assignment 1

The document discusses the Black Death plague that hit Europe in the 14th century. It was spread by fleas that lived on rats and transmitted the plague bacteria to humans. The plague killed an estimated 25 million people, or 35-70% of the population in Europe. This massive death rate led to significant economic, social, and political changes as it decreased the workforce and allowed surviving workers to demand higher wages, challenging the existing feudal system.

Uploaded by

api-488040384
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
89 views21 pages

Black Plague Teaching Assignment 1

The document discusses the Black Death plague that hit Europe in the 14th century. It was spread by fleas that lived on rats and transmitted the plague bacteria to humans. The plague killed an estimated 25 million people, or 35-70% of the population in Europe. This massive death rate led to significant economic, social, and political changes as it decreased the workforce and allowed surviving workers to demand higher wages, challenging the existing feudal system.

Uploaded by

api-488040384
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 21

Objective: Students will examine

the Black Death and how it


influenced society and economic
well being at this time.
The Famine of
1315-1317
☠ By 1300 Europeans were farming almost all
the land they could cultivate.
☠ A population crisis developed.
☠ Climate changes in Europe produced three
years of crop failures between 1315-17
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.
The Culprits
The Disease
Cycle
Flea drinks rat blood Bacteria
that carries the multiply in
bacteria. flea’s gut.

Human is
infected!

Flea bites human and


Flea’s gut clogged
regurgitates blood
with bacteria.
into human wound.
The Symptoms

Bulbous

Septicemic Form:
almost 100%
mortality rate.
From the Toggenburg Bible,
1411
Medieval Art & the
Plague
Artes Moriendi: The "art of dying," practiced by
some people at the time of the Black Death. The
goal of this practice was to approach death with
a calm and peaceful outlook and to enter the
kingdom of heaven….
Medieval Art & the
Plague

Bring out your


dead!
Medieval Art & the
Plague

An obsession
with death.
The Danse Macabre

In medieval art, an illustration of the power of death, in which a skeleton or demon leads people to
the grave. During plague times, some people actually performed this dance as a way of trying to
overcome their fear of death.
Ring around the Rosie
The symptoms of the plague included a rosy red rash in the shape of a
ring on the skin (Ring around the rosy). Pockets and pouches were
filled with sweet smelling herbs ( or posies) which were carried due to
the belief that the disease was transmitted by bad smells. The term
"Ashes Ashes" refers to the cremation of the dead bodies! We all fall
down (death).
Economic impacts of the Plague

Large death rate decreased the number of available workers

Farm production declined

Allowed remaining workers to demand higher wages

Nobles resisted which led to peasant revolts

Many serfs left the manors for better jobs in the cities

Led to the end of the feudal system


Social & Political Impact of the
Plague
Led people to question their religious faith and the Church

Seemed powerless to stop the plague

Some clergy fled towns and others charged high prices to perform services for dying
victims

peasant revolts weakened the power of landowners over peasants

Monarchs gained more power and began to build powerful nations


Attempts to Stop the
Plague

“Leeching”
A Doctor’s
Robe
Attempts to Stop the
Plague

Flagellanti:
Self-inflicted “penance” for our sins!
Attempts to Stop the
Plague
Pogroms against the Jews

“Golden Circle”
“Jew” hat obligatory badge
Death Triumphant !:
A Major Artistic Theme
The Mortality
Rate
35% - 70%

25,000,000
dead !!!
Exit Ticket:

In 3-5 sentences...

Can disease change the world?


For tomorrow!
We will be playing “plague tag”
and reflecting on the game!

You might also like