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...