Unit 6The Crisis of the late

Middle AgesThe Cause and effects of the Black

Death on Western Europe

Black Death / Bubonic Plague

Preconditions in 14th Century Europe

3 years of bad harvests, number of livestock down Too many people (pop 2x) Population weakened

Unsanitary living conditions Interconnected nature of trade

Travel between cities and to the East

Origins of The Plague Origins in many areas in the East

(killed 35 million in Asia) China, Arabian Peninsula, Middle East,

East Africa In 1347 the Western Europe sees its

first outbreak of the plague in Sicily Originated in the Black Sea port of Caffa Brought to Sicily by Genoese merchants

Path of the plague

Science of The Plague Bacteria Yersinia Pestis

Found in many different strains Signs of infection included

High fever, Swelling, Nausea, Respiratory failure

Found inside the stomach of the Oriental Rat Flea (X Cheopis) which can jump 220 x its body size

Immunity: Innate and acquired 3 forms of the plague

Human infection

Bubonic Most common strain (30% to 75%

mortality) Transmitted by flea bite, Symptoms in 1

– 7 days Symptoms: headaches, nausea, high

Fever Characteristic Bubos or blackish swelling

Usually in Armpits, neck or groin Nervous System Failure, Respiratory

Failure Internal hemorrhaging

Pneumonic Second most common strain (usually

in Winter) Infected lungs caused Severe

coughing Transmission became airborne

Coughing and Spittle in air Did not spread fast or far (usually

abandoned) Death came more quickly

Septicemic Rarest form of the plague 100% mortality Transmission by insect bite

Bacteria enters bloodstream in such large numbers that it causes an overdose of the bacteria

Immediate symptoms Death within a day or same day of

symptoms Bubos don’t even have time to form

Remedies, Reactions and Myths

The Jews had poisoned the wells (25:00) Poison gas had been released

Aromatic amulets Flight and seclusion

Only the rich Flagellants

(punish ourselves?) Hedonists (why not?) Cats/Comets

Consequences of the Plague Economic (36:06)

Decline in labor made labor was more valuable Wealthy saw the value of their land decline Poor revolted

Religious People lost faith, clergy and Church failed to provide

answers (look to themselves) Caused the reformation and the Scientific Revolution

Social / Political Power of nobles reduced (Kings centralized their

power)

...The End...