The PlagueBlack Death- Bubonic Plague

Where did it come from?

First seen in China (under Mongols) in early 1330s.

How did it spread?

Rat Flea

What helped it spread?

• Small cramped living spaces in towns• Dirty wool clothing• Trade routes

Physical Symptoms

Fever

Swelling of lymph glands (buboes)

Red spots on skin that later turn black (hence the name Black Death)

What do you think the consequences were?

The Dead

• Killed 25 million people over 5 years - 1/3 of Europe’s population!

Dealing with the DeadCities and towns lacked means to adequately deal with the number of corpses . . .

Some of the corpses were left to rot. Some were taken to mass graves and burned.* Hoped to get rid of the disease . . . didn’t work

Social Consequences

Many towns and cities closed their borders

People left cities and towns and went to rural areas hoping to escape the disease, but it caught up with them there!

Many people blamed the Jews leading to anti-Semitism

Economic Consequences

• Economic decline• Severe labor shortages• Workers demand higher wages, land owners refuse to meet these demands

• Peasant revolt of 1381

• Feudalism collapsed• Increased tension between upper & lower class

Powers of the Church changes

Church power increased• some people become convinced that the plague was a punishment for sin

Power of the Church changes

Church power questioned• Why did God let

something so horrible happen?

• Why hadn’t peoples prayers been answered?

• Why did priests charge high fees for sacraments for the dead?

Primary Source

• Read and annotate the primary source, Description of the Plague

• Focus: Find evidence of the social, economic and religious effects of the Plague.