The Black Death

The Black DeathThe Black Death

How did it happen and how How did it happen and how did it lead to better lives for did it lead to better lives for

most Europeans?most Europeans?

What is it?What is it? Yersinia pestisYersinia pestis, a deadly bacteria that , a deadly bacteria that

multiplies rapidly in the blood of infected multiplies rapidly in the blood of infected rodentsrodents

Where did it come from?Where did it come from?

Somewhere in the steppes of central Asia.Somewhere in the steppes of central Asia.

How did it spread?How did it spread? Fleas infesting the Fleas infesting the

rodents ingest the rodents ingest the bacteria.bacteria.

Ecological changes in Ecological changes in central Asia drove the central Asia drove the infected rodents out of infected rodents out of their habitats into closer their habitats into closer contact with humans.contact with humans.

Fleas on the rats then Fleas on the rats then had greater opportunity had greater opportunity to infect humans with to infect humans with the bacteria they had the bacteria they had picked up from the rats.picked up from the rats.

Where did it spread?Where did it spread? By 1345 large numbers of Mongols in the By 1345 large numbers of Mongols in the

Russian steppes were dying.Russian steppes were dying. It moved along trade routes to the Black It moved along trade routes to the Black

Sea, where the Mongols had laid siege to Sea, where the Mongols had laid siege to the city of Kaffa.the city of Kaffa.

Mongols catapulted infected corpses into Mongols catapulted infected corpses into the city.the city.

A few (who were already infected) were A few (who were already infected) were able to escape Kaffa and fled in their ships able to escape Kaffa and fled in their ships to ports in the Mediterranean.to ports in the Mediterranean.

Spread of Black DeathSpread of Black Death

The Arrival and Spread of the The Arrival and Spread of the PlaguePlague

Different Varieties of Black Different Varieties of Black DeathDeath

Bubonic-most common, transmitted by flea Bubonic-most common, transmitted by flea bites, kills 50%-60% of its victimsbites, kills 50%-60% of its victims Appears within 6 days of flea bite, enlargement Appears within 6 days of flea bite, enlargement

of lymph nodes, hemorrhaging below skin of lymph nodes, hemorrhaging below skin causing buboes and skin rottingcausing buboes and skin rotting

Pneumonic-transmitted from person to Pneumonic-transmitted from person to person, kills 95%-100% of its victimsperson, kills 95%-100% of its victims Appears in 2-3 days, infection moves to lungs Appears in 2-3 days, infection moves to lungs

with a severe cough and spitting up bloody with a severe cough and spitting up bloody mucusmucus

A PandemicA Pandemic Plague occurs in Plague occurs in

pandemicspandemics A linked series of A linked series of

epidemics that strike in epidemics that strike in intervals of between 2 intervals of between 2 and 20 yearsand 20 years

The Black Death The Black Death reoccurred in Europe reoccurred in Europe periodically over the periodically over the next 200 yearsnext 200 years

The last outbreak was The last outbreak was in India in 1994in India in 1994

What was the world like before What was the world like before the Black Death struck?the Black Death struck?

Population in Europe had increased about Population in Europe had increased about 300% from the 10300% from the 10thth to 13 to 13thth century. century.

Trade within regions and between regions Trade within regions and between regions had increased greatly, particularly had increased greatly, particularly between Europe, Africa, and Asia.between Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Large empires, such as the Mongol & Large empires, such as the Mongol & Islamic empire, encouraged trade and Islamic empire, encouraged trade and protected trade routes.protected trade routes.

What was the effect of the What was the effect of the Black Death?Black Death?

There were both short-term and long-There were both short-term and long-term effects.term effects.

Effects were both social and Effects were both social and economic.economic.

Social EffectsSocial Effects Some deserted Some deserted

homes & familieshomes & families Public flagellationPublic flagellation The church’s power The church’s power

declineddeclined Rise of anti-Rise of anti-

Semitism (hostility Semitism (hostility towards Jews)towards Jews)

Social EffectsSocial Effects

Economic EffectsEconomic Effects One-third of One-third of

population diespopulation dies Declining tradeDeclining trade Higher pricesHigher prices Higher wages & Higher wages &

living standardsliving standards Cheap landCheap land Better technologyBetter technology Decline of feudalismDecline of feudalism

How did the Black Death How did the Black Death benefit survivors?benefit survivors?

1/3 population dies butAmount of land remains the same

Serfs more valuablePeasant Revolt 1381

(Fixed rent so serfs not tied To land)

Profitable to raise more sheep

Gain independenceIncreased wages

Shift from farming to Manufacturing Woolen goods

SerfsSerfs Wages increase, Wages increase,

better standard of better standard of livingliving

Farming to ManufacturingFarming to Manufacturing Raising more Raising more

sheepsheep ShearingShearing

Washing woolWashing wool Spinning woolSpinning wool Weaving woolWeaving wool

Economic EffectsEconomic Effects