Black Death in Europe

Roughly, by how much did the Population of Europe shrink by following the Black Death?

• 26%

• 70%

• 40%

• 92%

For the survivors, fewer people meant ..?

• Higher wages

• More Food

• More houses

• Fewer jobs

Why were people able to gain higher wages

• Better wages made people happier after a difficult time

• People could exchange money for goods and services

• There was more money around

• employers had to pay more to get people to work for them. They had no choice.

Many priests died during the Black Death of the 1347 -50. Why was that?

• God didn't like them anymore

• The priests helped the sick and caught the disease

• Priests were prone to the Black Death

• They lived in poor conditions

Fewer people attended Church because ...

• Fewer people believed in God

• Everyone was dead

• The church was a confined space - you could easily catch the disease

• Plague victims were buried in the churchyard

Why did fewer people believe in God after the Black Death?

• God told them not to believe

• Actually, more people believed in God

• Everyone was dead

• Because ideas about God could not account for such a disaster

Artists included 'memento mori', like the skull in this picture. What does Memento Mori mean?

• 'Remember you will die"

• 'Remember your house keys'

• 'Remember to go to the shops'

• 'Remember not to catch Plague!'

Why did artists include Memento Mori in their art?

• They liked skulls

• So people would remember the shortness of life and do something with their time

• Skulls looked good

• So people would think about death

Why did people have big parties during and after the Black Death

• To celebrate life and living

• To celebrate the end of the Black Death

• To replace Church

• To get exercise. They'd all been locked down.

What brought the Black Death to Europe, other than 'Rats'?

• Priests of the Church

• Crusader Knights

• Monks

• Merchants and International Trade