1. BLACK DEATH DAY 3

2. QUESTION
When catastrophes occur, do humans want something ––or someone––to blame?
––If so, why? 5

3. Primary Source
EXPLANATIONS FOR THE PLAGUE
“Into the distinguished city of Florence, more noble than any other Italian City, there came the deadly pestilence. It started in the East, either because of the influence of the heavenly bodies or because of God’s just wrath as a punishment to mortals for out wicked sins…”

4. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
EXPLANATIONS FOR THE PLAGUE II
“The works of the physicians Hippocrates and Galen, written centuries earlier, were the mainstay of both Christian and Muslim medical education of the time. Both held that disease was produced and spread by corruption of the air. Similarly, the idea that events in the heavens, such as the movements of the planets, influenced what happened on earth was a well-established and accepted medieval belief.”

5. Black Death
ULTIMATE CAUSE
“We now know that the Black Death was caused by a bacillus, Yersinia pestis…”
“Yersenia pestis reproduces extremely fast. Half a dozen plague bacilli on a host will multiply to several thousand in one day and to some hundred million within two days”

6. Handout
The Flagellants and the Persecution of the Jews

7. Presentations

8. TOOL #1:
Start with a question or controversial statement

9. For Instance QUESTION:
How many of you have ever been afraid of getting sick from a family member?
Raise your hands…

10. For Instance: CONTROVERSIAL STATEMENT
What you’re doing right now could kill you
Sitting in chairs versus standing and walking around

11. TOOL #2 Tell a personal story that relates to your subject
I remember when my grandmother got pneumonia…and how scared they were to bring me around her...for fear that she would get sicker from my germs...

12. FOR INSTANCE PERSONAL STORY:
I remember when I was younger my grandmother caught pneumonia…

13. TOOL #3
List of three
There are three things you need to know about the black death: 1. 2. 3.

14. For Instance LIST OF THREE
If there are three things I want you to take away from my presentation, they are:
1. wash your hands constantly
2. if you feel sick ––even a little bit––consult your doctor immediately
3. Drink as much water as possible, but try to make sure it’s filtered

15. For Instance
If there are three things you should know about keeping your pet healthy, they are
1. feed it lots of food and water
2. give it lots of exercise
3. hug it at least 3 times a day

16. Presentation on Presentations
Start with a question or a controversial statement
Imagine getting sick just from breathing the same air as them…
Personal anecdote
When I was a kid I came down with pneumonia…
Three things
There are three things I want you to take away from this presentation…

17. Write Down a Question
Pull out a piece of paper and write down a question (about the black death) and fold it up

18. Groups of 4

19. Mini Presentations Groups of 4 Materials:
Laptop
Power point
Requirements: Topic of Choice from Black Death
3-5 minutes
Question
Personal statement
Three things

20. List of Possible Topics
Medieval medicine
Role of the church
Role of the nobles
Persecution of Jews
Astrology
The bubonic plague
Fear of contagion
Seeking absolution
Etc

21. WASH YOUR HANDS!
What is this?

22. Pragmatics and Psychology
Does a “positive” attitude help in preventing illness and disease?
Or are pragmatics, such as careful attention to hygiene the true preventative measure
Or can it be both?
Write
Discuss
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