1. The Black Death “Thanks for the ride!”

2. Also Known As… Black Plague
It was the bubonic plague (named for big black buboes, or swellings, that appeared on victims’ bodies)
They did not know what caused it
VERY Contagious

3. The greatest catastrophe or disaster in the history of the world
The greatest catastrophe or disaster in the history of the world. It was silent and invisible. In the Mid-14th Century fleas on rats spread it throughout Europe on the trade routs!

4. What were the symptoms of the plague?

5. What caused the plague?
The question that you are probably thinking is...
Who or what caused the Black Death?
This is your answer!!!
The Oriental Rat Flea!

6. How was the plague transmitted?
We now know that the most common form of the Black Death was the BUBONIC PLAGUE! This disease was spread by fleas which lived on the black rat. The fleas sucked the rat’s blood which contained the plague germs. When the rat died the fleas jumped on to humans and passed on the deadly disease.

7. How the Plague was spread
Flea drinks rat blood that carries the bacteria.
Bacteria multiply in flea’s gut.
Human is Infected with the Plague!
Flea gut clogged with bacteria.
Flea bites human regurgitates blood into open wound.

8. 35% - 70% of each infected area (town or country) died
The Mortality Rate
25,000,000 dead !!!

9. EFFECTS
Crippled economies of Europe (many workers died, took a long time to recover)
Art. Many paintings of the time period center around death and disease
Children. Song

10. EFFECTS
After the plague was over, surviving peasants gained more economic power.

11. Medieval Art & the Plague

12. Medieval Art & the Plague