Black Death

The

Black
Death

WORLD HISTORY TEKS

• (4)(F) explain how the Crusades, the Black

Death, and the Hundred Years’ War
contributed to the end of medieval Europe.

BELL RINGER

• Relating to the experiences and what we

saw during the height of the COVID-19
Pandemic, what are some things you
would have done differently?

The Great 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.

CHECKPOINT 1

• What is a period of time where almost all

land could not be cultivated and immense
crop failure?

• Famine

1347: Plague

Reaches Europe!

1347: Plague

Reaches Europe!

The Culprits

The Symptoms

Bulbous (bubos)

Septicemic Form:

almost 100%

mortality rate.

From the Toggenburg Bible, 1411

Society’s Response

• Victims were sealed in their

homes.

• Houses were locked from the

outside.

• Necessities would be sent into

the houses via baskets.

• Those who died were put outside

to be collected at night.

Death cart laborers &

watchman

• Very well paid job.
• Watchman made sure

sealed houses
remained sealed.

• At night, their job was to

pick up the bodies of
that day.

• Eventually, those who

had recovered from the
disease got this
assignment.

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!

Medieval Art & the Plague

Medieval Art & the Plague

Bring out your

dead!

Medieval Art & the Plague

An obsession
with death.

Death Triumphant !:

A Major Artistic Theme

Boccaccio in The

Decameron

The victims ate lunch with

their friends and dinner

with their ancestors.

Plague spreads north!

CHECKPOINT 2

• Who are considered the culprits of the

bubonic plague/black death?

• Fleas and rats

Attempts to Stop the Plague

A Doctor’s

Robe

“Leeching”

During the period of the Black Death and the
Great Plague of London, plague doctors
(physicians) visited victims of the plague.

Attempts to Stop the Plague

Flagellanti:

Self-inflicted “penance” for our sins!

Attempts to Stop the Plague

Pogromsagainst the Jews

“Jew” hat

“Golden Circle”
obligatory badge

The Mortality

Rate

35% - 70%

25,000,000

dead !!!

What were the

political,
economic,

and social effects

of the Black Death??

The Effects:

• Trade declined due to a shortage of workers
• Church suffered a loss when prayers failed to stop the

plague.

• Manorial system began to crumble (Serfs left the manor)
• Peasants revolted when lords resisted their demands for

higher wages

• People developed a pessimistic attitude towards life
• Outbreak in anti-Semitism (hostility towards Jews)

Jews are burnt alive.

Plague 101

Discussion Question?

The Black Death caused some people to be

discriminatory against other people.
Some say that COVID 19 is a similar
epidemic of our time. Has it caused
discrimination in your opinion?

Dead bodies in the street and in burial sites.

EXIT TICKET

• What is the most likely situation or way

that the Black Death/Bubonic Plague
could’ve spread or be transported?

A. Existing trade routes from Asia to Europe
B. Through airborne tactics
C. In vast air mechanic vessels
D. From personal contact within Europe

1.

What is the official name of the black plague?

2.

When and how did black plague get to Europe?

3.

How many people did the black plague
eventually kill?

4.

What animal carried the disease to Europe?

5.

Why did the plague cause the end of the
feudal system?

Answer the following in Complete Sentences in your Assignment!