1. The Black Death (Bubonic Plague) England 1348 – 1350 (20 Slides) 1

2. Yersinia pestis bacteria-born disease bacteria-born disease carried in blood of black rats & fleas that lived off the rats fleas forced to seek alternatives including humans 2

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4. The Path of the Plague 4

5. came from Caffa - a Crimean port on the Black Sea - thriving trade center for Italian merchants from Genoa Tartars (Muslim Crimea inhabitants) blamed Christian Genoese tens of thousands died from plague 5

6. Reasons for Spread 6

7. sent army to attack Caffa plague struck army, many died catapults lobbed infected corpses over walls plague quickly spread Genoese fled city & sailed to Italy carrying rats, fleas, & Black Death 7

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9. traveled on trade routes & caravans passing through … Italy France England Germany Denmark Sweden Poland Finland eventually reaching Greenland 9

10. Effortsto Stop the Plague 10

11. Air born burned incense burned incense - juniper, laurel, pine, beech, - juniper, laurel, pine, beech, lemon leaves, rosemary, camphor, & sulfur handkerchiefs dipped in aromatic oils handkerchiefs dipped in aromatic oils (smell from the dead and dying) 11

12. Cure of Sound rang church bells rang church bells fired cannons fired cannons 12

13. Techniques that Worked isolation (quarantine) isolation (quarantine) - walled up houses infected - incoming ships on a separate island - Pope Clement VI living in Avignon sat between two large fires to breath sat between two large fires to breath pure air. pure air. Note: heat actually destroys Note: heat actually destroys the plague bacillus the plague bacillus 13

14. Effect on European Civilization 14

15. Population -Over38 million Europeans died-Over38 million Europeans died Europeans - over 38 million died Chinese - between 40 and 60 million - cut population nearly in half 15

16. Christian Church -lost prestige -spiritual authority -leadership over people 16

17. Economy hit the hardest artisan skills disappeared poor laborers given more say peasants & artisans demanded higher wages serfs sort liberation 17

18. poor people saw so much death wanted to enjoy life serfs left land no crops planted domesticated animals roamed freely farming communities became rare 18

19. lack of sufficient law enforcement personnel resulted in lawlessness people called “Bechini” - dressed in red robes - wearing red masks showing only their eyes - pillaged homes, murdering & raping people 19

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