The Black Death
Europe in the late Middle Ages 10th -14th centuries Europe’s pop. increased by 300%. improvements in agriculture. mid-1300s, pop. of Europe over 75 million
The end of the world… In October 1347, the disease made first appearance in Europe. A fleet of ships making its way through the Mediterranean Sea had on board very sick sailors. When the sailors arrived, people noticed the following things: Most of the sailors were dead, and those that were alive looked as if they were about to die The sailors’ faces were contorted and bloated They had a purplish hue that colored their skin
Within a week, people began dropping dead by the hundreds each day. Within six months, the disease (Black Death, Black Plague, or Bubonic Plague) would claim over half of the region’s population.
Spread of the Black Death 25-38 million dead 1/4-1/2 of the population died
1347-1351, between 25%-50% of Europe’s population would be killed by the Black Death. In many towns, the dead outnumbered the living. Bodies piled up in the streets faster than people could bury them.
Social Impacts People at the time did not know what caused the plague They thought Punishment by God for sins Caused by the Devil Jews poisoning town wells Leads to massacres of Jews
Economic Impacts Trade declined Shortage of workers = rise in price of labor Decline in population Less demand for food Lower food prices Peasants & serfs Peasants could leave manor & work for other lords that paid more & could move to cities Serfs bargained with lords to pay rent rather than service Frees them from being bound to the land
The Spread of the Plague