1. THE BLACK DEATH
1347-?

3. Activity 1
If you knew you didn’t have long to live, how would you choose to spend your time?
Write for 5
Talk for 5

4. Activity 1.1
Write
Discuss
Share

5. Key Information
“The Black death arrived from central Asia to afflict Europe, Middle East, and North Africa”

6. Key Information 1.1
“Carried by infected fleas that infested black rats, clothing, bedding, or human body hair”

8. Key Information 1.2
“Bubonic Plague, the most common form of the disease, killed people in three to five days”

9. Key Information 1.3
“It began with high fever climbing to 105 degrees, then caused convulsions, vomiting, and agonizingly painful swellings”

10. ZOMBIES!

11. Key Information 1.5
“All in all, during the initial half-century or so of recurring outbreaks, about one-third to one-half of the population died in areas the plague reached”

12. Statistic
“It is estimated that the Black Death killed 50 million people”
“Which equates to about 60 % of the total population of Europe”

13. 60 % !

14. Key Information 1.6
“Priests often failed to live up to their idealized image as selfless individuals”
Took advantage of people’s vulnerable states –
Charged high prices for absolution
Avoided those who were sick out of fear of contagion

15. Key Information 1.7
“Historians describe the mindset as swinging between the pole of frantic pleasure seeking to the pole of ardent religious faith, which often tipped towards fanaticism”
Imagine over half the city of Santa Fe infected with the plague…
Now based on that...

16. Activity 2
Keeping this morning’s writing exercise in mind, write and reflect on the following:

17. QUESTION
If the black death swept through Santa Fe, would you turn to “frantic pleasure seeking,” or would you turn to “ardent religious faith”?
Writing exercise (5)

18. Activity 2 Pleasure Seekers on one side / People of faith on the other
10-15

19. Instructions
Discuss amongst 2 big groups why you made your choice, and then elect 2 representatives from each side to come to the middle of the class to debate one another

20. Activity 3
Split up into groups of 4 and look over the following handout:

21. Activity 3 Read the advice on how to avoid the plague
As you read, do the following:
For each recommendation, circle each with the following designation:
G for good
B for bad
C for contradictory
10 min –
Then come back as a group and we will discuss

22. Crash Course!
10 min