Aim: How did the Black Plague impact the world? Do Now: Do remember the childhood game “Ring around the Rosies”? If so please write down the lyrics. Coach Smith
Sometimes a disease changes everything. Coach Smith
In Western Europe, it all started with fleas on rats. Coach Smith
Life was already hard in Western Europe during the 1300s. Food prices had risen and hunger and starvation increased. Coach Smith
And then, a terrible disease entered Western Europe along trade routes from Asia. In a few years, this disease led to the deaths of one-third of Western Europe’s population. Coach Smith
The disease’s formal name was Bubonic Plague but people called it the Black Death. Coach Smith
In 1348, Bubonic Plague entered Western Europe. Buboes or swellings and black spots formed on victims. Coach Smith
Infected people usually died within a few days. Coach Smith
Merchants and travelers spread the disease. Coach Smith
Infected fleas on rats bit people and these infected people spread the disease through coughing and breathing. Coach Smith
There were fewer people left to work and pay taxes. As the population decreased, other changes occurred. Coach Smith
A decrease in population led to decreases in food prices and increases in wages. Can you figure out why? Coach Smith
The plague changed everything. It was one of the factors that led to the decline of the Middle Ages and a new era in Western Europe. Coach Smith
As the population declined, serfs were given greater rights and eventually serfdom ended in Western Europe.
After all this death, people wanted life again. Coach Smith
What was the Bubonic Plague? Why was it called the Black Death? The Big Seven: What was the Bubonic Plague? Why was it called the Black Death? Where did the disease originate? How did the disease enter Europe? What percentage of the population died? How did the disease affect food prices? How did the disease affect wages? Coach Smith
Mini-Project A. Historical Research: The Plague was the epidemic of the Middle Ages, are there any world epidemics facing the world today? Coach Smith