The Black Death

a devastating worldwide pandemic that first struck Europe in the mid-14th century (1347–50), killing about a third of Europe's population, an estimated 34 million people.pandemicEurope14th century134750Europe's population

The Black Death Originated in Asia Came to Europe along major seal and land trade routes

Why is it called the “Black Death”? because of a striking symptom of the disease, in which sufferers' skin would blacken due to hemorrhages under the skin

Overview of the Plague’s Effects Depopulation changed Europe's social structure,social structure was a disastrous blow to Europe's predominant religious institution, the Roman Catholic Church, religiousRoman Catholic Church caused widespread persecutions of minorities like Jews and lepers,persecutionsminoritiesJewslepers created a general mood of morbidity that influenced people to live for the moment, unsure of their daily survivalmoodmorbidity

3 forms of the plague Bubonic Pneumonic Septicemic.

Mortality Rates Bubonic plague most common 30 – 75% Pneumonic plague second most common 90 – 95%. Septicemic plague most rare close to 100%

Bubonic Plague worldwide pandemic starting in the mid- 14th century (1347–50),pandemic 14th century killing about a third of Europe's population, an estimated 34 million people.Europe's population

Bubonic Plague Historically thought to be a bacterial infection spread by fleas with the help of animals like the black rat (Rattus rattus),fleasblack rat today's experts are not sure of this

Bubonic plague painful lymph node swellings called buboes buboes in the groin and armpits, which ooze pus and blood. damage to the skin and underlying tissue until they were covered in dark blotches. Therefore, "Black" plague Most victims died within four to seven days after infection

Pneumonic plague Symptoms included slimy sputum tinted with blood.sputum As the disease progressed, sputum became free flowing and bright red.

Pneumonic plague transmitted through infected droplets of saliva coughed up by bubonic or septicemic infected humans The airborne bacteria enters the lungs through the windpipe and starts attacking the lungs and throat.

Septicemic plague Symptoms were high fevers and skin turning deep shades of purple transmitted by direct contact with fleas

Consequences Depopulation Socio-economic effects Persecutions Religion Other social effects

Depopulation Approximately 25 million deaths occurred in Europe alone, with many others occurring in northern Africa, the Middle East and Asia.AfricaAsia It is estimated that between 1/3 and 1/2 of the European population died from the outbreak between 1348 and 1350.

Depopulation Villages, towns and cities – more deaths than in the countryside (more remote) population densities and close living quarters made disease transmission easier Cities were also filthy, infested with lice, fleas and rats, and subject to diseases related to malnutrition and poor hygiene

Socio-economic effects The governments of Europe had no effective response to the crisis because no one knew its cause or how it spread. Most monarchs instituted measures that prohibited exports of foodstuffs, condemned black market speculators, set price controls on grain, and outlawed large-scale fishing.governments monarchsblack marketspeculators price controls

Socio-economic These controls did not work and contributed to the economic downturn and shortages of food

Socio-economic In 1337, on the eve of the first wave of the Black Death, England and France went to war in what would become known as the Hundred Years' War. This, another of the crises of the fourteenth century, would deplete the treasuries, manpower, and infrastructure of both kingdoms throughout and beyond the worst of the plague. Malnutrition, poverty, disease and hunger, coupled with war, growing inflation and other economic concerns made Europe in the mid- fourteenth century ripe for tragedy.1337Hundred Years' War manpowerinfrastructurekingdoms

Socio-economic Black Death began during a recession in the European economy that had been under way since the beginning of the century, and only served to worsen itrecession As a consequence, it greatly accelerated social and economic change during the 14th and 15th centuries

Socio-economic It also led to peasant uprisings in many parts of Europepeasant uprisings The Black Death should have opened the way to increased peasant prosperity But it didn’t Prosperity does not occur till 100 years or so later – reasons unknown

Socio-economic In Western Europe: increased social mobility, as depopulation further eroded the peasants' already weakened obligations to remain on their traditional holdings.

Socio-economic the sudden scarcity of cheap labor provided an incentive for landlords to compete for peasants with wages and freedoms, an innovation that, some argue, represents the roots of capitalism, and the resulting social upheaval caused the Renaissance and even Reformationcapitalism RenaissanceReformation

Socio-economic In Eastern Europe, by contrast, renewed stringency of laws tied the remaining peasant population more tightly to the land than ever before through serfdom.Eastern Europeserfdom

Socio-economic On top of all this, the plague's great population reduction brought cheaper land prices, more food for the average peasant, and a relatively large increase in per capita income among the peasantry, if not immediately, in the coming century.

Socio-economic However, the upper class instituted laws which barred the peasantry from certain actions or material goods

Persecutions Jews Lepers

Religion cynicism toward religious officials who could not keep their frequent promises of curing plague victims and banishing the disease. Extreme alienation with the Christian church lead to: –Interest in other forms of religion, such as the flagellants flagellants –Secular solutions i.e. government

Religion severe shortage of clergy new clergy members – abuse of power a further deterioration of the position of the Church in the eyes of the people

Religion the church's power was weakened causing the social roles it had played to be replaced by secular ones i.e. government

Other social effects European culture in general turned very morbid – reflected in art, literature, etc.European culture mood was one of pessimism, and the art turned dark with representations of death influenced people to live for the moment, unsure of their daily survival Loss of belief in alchemy – potions did not work Liquor invented by alchemists – thought to be a cure for Black Death - increased consumption of liquor

Danse Macabre Inspired by Black Death, Danse Macabre is an allegory on the universality of death and a common painting motive in late- medieval periods.Danse Macabre

Illustration of the Black Death from the Toggenburg Bible (1411).Toggenburg1411

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