2. In the 1300’s an infectious disease struck
Asia, the Middle East, Northern Africa and
Europe that killed tens of millions of
people.
It’s victims suffered severe chills, fever,
convulsions, dark spots, vomiting, and
usually died within a few days of infection
Between 20 and 40 million people died by
1400
3. It is thought that the Plague, or
“Black Death”, spread from
centralAsia to Europe along
trade routes. It was caused by a
bacteria found in ground
rodents in central Asia.
It was carried along trade
routes by Mongol armies and
traders and first introduced in
Europe in Kaffa in 1347.
4. Mongol armies attacking the city of Kaffa
used infected corpses as weapons
As traders escaped the city they carried the
disease with them on ships to Sicily – It
spread into Europe from this point
Weather, war and famine played a role in the
severity and the speed in which the disease
covered Europe
5.
6. The plague, or “Black Death”, didn’t officially get it’s nickname until 1833
The nickname came from the later part of the infection when the body
would begin to rot and turn black
After a human is bitten by an infected animal the bacteria moves through
the blood stream and into the lymph nodes, which start to swell causing
painful bumps or ,“buboes”, to develop
Other symptoms include: fever, chills, headache and extreme tiredness
If left untreated the infection can enter the bloodstream and lead to
abdominal pain, shock, and bleeding under the skin or organs
If it enters the lungs it can lead to coughing with blood, high fever, and
results in death
After contracting the disease it usually takes between 2-6 days to run it’s
course
7. At first there was little or no response from European
governments. The disease spread so fast that it was not
clear where the disease came from
More people died in cities than in the country side – the
clergy suffered more than any group because they cared
for the sick
It wasn’t uncommon for 50% of a city’s or town’s
population to die off.
“Experts” began to look to weather, natural disasters,
and God’s anger as causes of the Plague. They also
began to blame groups of people such as the Jews.
People tried to ward off the plague with handkerchiefs
soaked in oils and incense. They believed that the smell
could spread the plague. They wore charms, ate special
diets, developed odd sleeping patterns, and tried to
avoid too much exercise in one day.
8.
9. Religious fanaticism began
to take off – minority
groups were blamed for
the spread of the plague
A religious group called the
“flagellents” began to
punish themselves for their
sins in hope of preventing
the plague from spreading
10. The massive loss of life caused by the plague had a
major impact on Asia, North Africa, and Europe
Christians saw the plague as a punishment for sins
Muslims saw the plague as a test of faith
War stopped, trade declined, landowners were
ruined by the shortage of labor
Hostility towards Jews developed during the
Crusades continued during the Bubonic Plague
11. As time went on doctors
and government officials
began to understand the
spread of the Plague.
Doctors spread the
progression of the disease
and began to develop
vaccines.
Government officials
began to quarantine
people infected with the
disease.
In Europe the economy
suffered greatly, at
first.
Lack of population =
loss of workforce = not
enough food produced
and looting by pirates
and bandits
Feudalism comes to an
end
