1. The Plague 1330s -1351

2. Background on the Plague
Black Plague, Black Death, Bubonic Plague, the Plague
1/3 of Europe’s population died = 25 million people
Came from Asia w/ the Mongol army and traders

3. Black Death Around the World
Started in either northwestern or southwestern Asia
Plague outbreak in Yuan Empire in 1331
Spreads to India, Central Asia (Uzbeks, Caspian Sea), Persia, Mediterranean, Europe, Africa, and Arabia
Travels along sea and trade routes

7. The Main Culprit A rat flea
Bacteria multiplied in the flea’s stomach  made it always hungry  flea stayed on the host longer and passed on the bacteria

8. Remedies #1: Good Smelling Plants
Juniper, laurel, lemon leaves, rosemary, POSIES
Believed it would ward off evil spirits
#2: Noise/Sound
Rang church bells and fired cannons
Best Defenses
Isolation/Quarantine
Milan, Italy and Venice, Italy

9. Effects of the Plague
Economy  Working class died, peasants demand higher wages
Social  No law & order, people committed a lot of crime
Church  Lost followers because they were unable to explain the plague or provide cures
Art  Written language was almost lost, paintings were used as records – Major themes: death & dying

13. Effects of the Plague
Children  Exposed to death, and chaos; often orphaned – family deaths or abandonment
Population  Europe’s population won’t increase again until 1400’s; took another 400 years before the population equaled what it did before the plague