The Black Death was a devastating global epidemic of bubonic plague that struck Europe and Asia in the mid-1300s. It was caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis, which was often transmitted via flea bites from infected rats. Symptoms included fever, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, and the formation of swollen and painful buboes in the groin and armpit areas that oozed blood and pus. An estimated 25 to 50 million people died across Afro-Eurasia, representing up to 50% of Europe's population. The plague traveled along trade routes, devastating many port cities and spreading inland. By 1351, quarantines helped slow its spread, though occasional outbreaks continued
2. What is it?
■ The black death was a powerful, global
epidemic of Bubonic Plague. It struck
Europe and Asia in the mid-1300s
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC.
3. What did it look like?
■ In men and women alike, it was said to have begun by swellings.
The swellings were either on the groin or underneath the armpits
and said to the size of a common apple or chicken egg. They
were named the "plague boils"
■ The strange swellings would have blood or pus that would seep
out of them.
■ There were many other unpleasant symptoms such as: fever,
chills, vomiting, diarrhea, terrible aches and pains and last, put in
short terms...death.
■ The Bubonic Plague would attack the Lymphatic system, which is
a network of tissues, vessels, and organs that maintain
the body's fluid levels. The plague caused swelling
in the Lymph Nodes which is a structure in part of the immune
system that helps fight off infections and diseases. Due to this
being weakened, the plague infection and fluids spread to the
blood or lungs.
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA.
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC.
4. What caused it?
■ It is said that the plague bacteria, yersinia pestis, is
passed onto humans through the bites of fleas. If a
flea has previously fed off another animal that is
infected such as rats, rabbits, dogs or cats, the
infected blood and germs of the animal can be
transmitted to humans.
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed underCC BY-SA.
5. Timeline
■ 1346- The deadliest outbreak is in the Mongol Capital of Sarai. The Mongols carried
the disease to the west, around the Black Sea area. In the nearby city of Tana, a
death of a Muslim, sends the Italians into panic and they flee. They go by sea to the
Genoese outpost of Caffa. Upon arrival, they lay a siege for a year, however they are
struck with their own outbreak of the plague. They throw the dead bodies of the
infected over the boundarywall between them and Genoese. Both sides become
infected.
■ May 1347- The survivors flee by sea, carrying the plague to Constant Ople, where as
much as 90% of the population is killed.
■ October 1347- A ship docks in Sicily with an infected crew. Due to this, half the
population is killed. The plague moves to Messina. Fleeing residents spread it to
mainland Italy, where one-third of the population is taken out before the following
summer.
6. Timeline
■ November 1347- The plague arrives in France. It is brought by the Caffa ships that
dock in Marseille. It spreads further and quicker from there.
■ January 1348- A new plague strain makes its way to Europe due to Genoa brought
another Caffan ship that made a stop there. The Genoans attack the ship and send
it away. However, they still got infected. Y. Pestis heads east from Sicily into
the Persian Empire as well as through Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, and then
south to Egypt and Cyprus. Venice faces its own outbreak as well. They attempt to
control is by doing ship inspections, burning those with contagions, shutting
down the taverns and restricting the wine from unknown sources. However, these
precautions did not help any and the plague kills 60% of the Venetian population.
■ April 1348- The plague awakes a rage through Europe. This causes repeated
massacres of the Jewish communities. People started to believe that the plague was
caused by the Jewish people. The first killing took place in Provencewherea total
of 40 Jews were killed.
7. Timeline
■ June 1348- The plague enters England, in Dorset. As it makes its way through the
town, some people flee inland, only causing it to spread even further. Once the
plague hits Marseille, Paris and Normandy, the strain splits into two. One strain
moves to Belgian City of Tournai to the east and the other passed through Calais
and Avignon where 50% of the population dies. It proceeds on through Austria and
Switzerland.
■ October 1348- The infection kills King Edward III's daughter and continues on to
reach London.
■ February 1349- One of the most devastating massacres of Jews during the Black
Death, takes place on Valentine's Day. In Strasbourg, 2,000 Jewish people burned
alive. In the spring, 3,000 Jews attempted to fight back but lost.
■ April 1349- The plague hits Wales through people fleeing from southern England
and kills 100,000 people.
8. Timeline
■ July 1349- An English ship brings the plague to Norway and it tuns through Bergen.
The ship's crew was dead by the end of the week and the plague continues to travel
to Denmark and Sweden. The king that rules there, loses two of his brothers to the
plague. Then it continues to Russia and eastern Greenland.
■ March 1350- Scotland, who has so far avoided this plague, takes advantage on the
weakness of the English. They use this to begin an attack. However, during the wait
on the boarder for the attack, troops become infected and 5,000 of them die. They
chooseto retreat and brings the plague back with them to their families. This kills a
third of Scotland.
■ 1351- The plagues' spread begins to significantly slow down. This is due to
the quarantine efforts of the people. The aftermath reveals the deaths of anywhere
between 25 and 50 million people, massacres of 210 Jewish communities and a;;
total Europe lost 50% of its population.
9. Conclusion
■ 1353- The black death is safely put behind them and the people of Europe faced
and adapted to the changed Society.
■ The Bubonic Plague never completely exits. It resurfaces several more times
through the centuries however,none compared to this.
