Transcript 4_BUBONIC_PLAGUE

The Great Mortality
Transmission of “Black Death” or Bubonic Plague
Spread by fleas on backs of rats,
often in the holds of boats. The flea
sucks the bacteria from rats.
Fleas smell exhaled carbon dioxide
from humans and animals and jump
on them to feed. Fleas can jump 130
times their height.
Spread of “Black Death” or Bubonic Plague
Bacteria multiplies inside flea,
blocking its stomach, making it very
hungry.
Fleas squirt saliva or partly digested
blood that it sucked into a flea bite,
thus transmitting disease pathogen.
Hunger drives it to feed continuously.
Humans can transmit disease
through airborne droplets of saliva.
Impact of the Black Death on Selected Cities
• 35 million Chinese die
(1330s), 1/3 of Europe
(1347-1350)
• Feudal system erodes—
serfs flee manors, demand
pay, labor shortages, lords
shift to herding
• Loss of faith in Church
Transmission
HIV/AIDS
airborne bacteria and flea bites
virus, transmitted by bodily
fluids—sex, needle sharing
Spread
Black Death
Silk road, emerging trade
routes, Mongol warfare
Often by mobile people (truck
drivers, etc.), prostitution,
Who at
risk
Quarantine, no cure
Drugs (if can afford), no cure
Jews blamed
Gay men, poor blamed
Blame
Poor more vulnerable due to
hygiene, crowding, poor diet
Treatment
Poor lack economic options,
leads to prostitution, dirty
needles, lack of education,
women dependent on men
"The Dance of Death“ by Hans Holbein the Younger, 1520s
1. What is feudalism (3 key parts)? Why did feudalism last
so long?
2. Feudal pyramid--castes, obligation of each to caste, fiefs.
How does the Church hierarchy fit into this diagram?
3. What was the view of the individual during the Middle
Ages? How is it different and similar to today?
4. How did feudalism and Christianity influence each other?
5. What is monasticism and what were its key values? Was
monastic life liberating or oppressive—why?
6. 4 main goals of crusaders; Major impacts of the Crusades
7. What was the Convivencia and how did it make Spain
unique during the Middle Ages? What are the lessons of
Convivencia?