2. Where it Began The infection started in fleas on rats in China. Since China is a big trading nation, it quickly spread to Western Asia and Europe

3. Spreading to Europe Nation In October 1347, several Italian merchants returned from a trip to the Black Sea (a key trading link with China) and the men were dying from Black Plague! The disease quickly spread!!

5. WARNING!!! If you cannot handle graphic pictures…CLOSE YOUR EYES…

6. Physical Effects Once people are infected, they infect others rapidly!! Causes fever and painful swelling of lymph glands!! Causes spots on the skin that are red first and then turn black!!

7. Other Effects Family members abandoned each other!! Dead bodies were left in empty houses; there was nobody to give them a Christian burial.

8. Burial Dead bodies were found in every corner The bodies were carried to mass burial places

9. During the winter the disease seemed to disappear because the fleas were not so common during the cold. The disease struck again each spring for centuries killing new victims. After 5 years 25 million people were dead (1/3 of Europe’s population) Continued

10. Society Effects The Europe society never recovered from these effects: So many people died that there was serious labor shortages The workers demanded higher wages but landlords refused to pay them more which caused peasant riots.