Black Death(1300s)

Yersinia pestis

Plague

• Black Death – An event; one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, resulting in the deaths of 75-200 million people

• Pandemic – epidemic of infectious disease attacking human populations that spreads across multiple continents or around the world

• Plague – deadly infectious disease caused by the bacterium Y. pestis– Pneumonic plague (coughing; attacks lungs)– Bubonic plague (buboes; attacks lymph nodes)

Distribution

• Began in China sometime during the 1330s• Spread throughout Asia, Africa, and Europe within

20 years• Increased trade distributed the plague rapidly• Y. pestis Fleas Rats Ships Everywhere

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Siege of Caffa

• Major trading city on the Black Sea (Eastern Europe)• Mongols invade Caffa (today in Crimea, Ukraine)

hoping to control this trade in 1347• Catapulted plague-infected corpses over the castle

walls

Examples of Trade

Junk

• Chinese sailing ship made of teak wood• Flat sails (similarly used in windsurfing) for quick

and sturdy travel

Cog

• Baltic sailing ship made of oak wood• Single mast with a square-shaped sail

Galley

• Mediterranean ship with oars and sails• Mainly used for rowing in European seas

Packhorse

• Any horse, mule, donkey, or pony used for carrying goods on their backs

Pannier

• A basket, bag, or other container holding goods on the back of an animal