student work sample

1. The Great Famine

2. Widespread food shortage Occurred throughout Europe Lasted from 1315-1317, although Europe did not fully recover until 1325 Caused by incessant and harsh rain starting during the spring of 1315 The weather pattern did not return to normal until the summer of 1317 What was the Great Famine ?

3. How did the Great Famine effect crops? Made it impossible to plow the fields ready for cultivation Rotted the seed grain The animal’s straw and hay couldn’t be preserved Harvest was much smaller than usual

4. How did the people provide themselves with food? People harvested wild edible fruits, plants, grasses, nuts, and bark found in the forest Slaughtered draft animals Ate seed grain Abandoned children Many elderly voluntarily starved themselves so that younger family members would survive Connection to Hansel & Gretel

5. What consequences did the Great Famine cause? Damaged the Church’s authority (no amount of prayer stopped the effects of the Great Famine) Increase in criminal activity (rape, murder, and cannibalism) Damaged the authority/power of the Medieval governments Stopped the population growth Made future events, such as the Black Death, more harmful Medieval Church music

6. What fatalities did the Great Famine cause? It is estimated that 10%-25% of the population of many cities and towns died People were weakened by diseases such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and tuberculosis

7. Work Cited http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Famine_of_1315%E2%80%931317#Great_Famine http://www.vlib.us/medieval/lectures/black_death.html http://www.uwmc.uwc.edu/csepa/mhall/IGS/Plagues/PIA/Images/bruegheldeath.jpg http://www.scienceclarified.com/scitech/images/lsbv_0001_0001_0_img0007.jpg http://www.curtisclark.org/emusic/midi/machdous.mid