Transcript The Black Death

Inter-regional Trade Networks
and Contacts
Period 3 Interregional Trade
Networks
1. the Silk Road-between Asia, the
Middle East and Europe
2. Indian Ocean Regional Trade
3. Trans-Saharan Trade
Consequences of Interregional
Trade Networks and Contacts
Technological and
Agricultural Diffusion
-magnetic compass from
China (allowed for more
long distance trade)
Gunpowder and cannons
spread west from China
and Mongol use to Europe
Food and spices
exchanged (rice to Europe
and Africa, sugar
crystallization to Europe)
1.
Consequences of Interregional
Trade Networks and Contacts
2. Demographic Changes
•Tremendous growth of cities
and urban centers along trade
routes and at trade ports
•Growth of middle class
merchants, artisans, bankers
–helped w/ trade industry
•The Plague will make
nomadic groups lose power
to sedentary groups
Also called the Bubonic Plague or the Plague
What was the Black Death?
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A deadly plague that spread across
Europe from China from 1346-1352
Caused by a form of bacteria
(Pasteurella pestis)
Comes in 3 forms:
Bubonic
Septicemic
Pneumonic
The Disease Cycle
Flea drinks rat blood
that carries the
bacteria.
Bacteria
multiply in
flea’s gut.
Human is infected!
Flea bites human and
regurgitates blood
into human wound.
Flea’s gut clogged
with bacteria.
Flea drinks rat blood
that carries the
bacteria.
Bacteria
multiply in
flea’s gut.
Flea’s gut clogged
with bacteria.
Flea bites human and
regurgitates blood
into human wound.
1. Bubonic
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The most common
First appears as eggshaped swellings
called buboes (boobows).
Swellings appear
wherever there are
lymph glands- neck,
armpits and groin
Leads to fever and
delirium and
eventually blood
infection
2. Septicemic
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The rarest and most
deadly form todayusually begins in the
bubonic form
Infects bloodstream
Causes black spots to
form beneath the skin
Can turn into pneumonic
plague
almost 100% mortality
rate.
3. Pneumonic Plague
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Attacks the lungs after
septicemic form
Fierce coughing and
sneezing fits
Victims cough up black
blood; causes the victim
to choke to death on his
or her own blood
Spread from human to
human through the air
A 1411 Painting of the Plague
How did the Black Death
spread throughout Europe?
Movement
Movement of the Plague to Europe
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Originated in SW China and then to Mongolia
and spread to the Black Sea along the Silk
Road
Bacteria carried by fleas who lived on black rats
Spread also through Mongolian military
campaigns
Italian merchant ships brought the rats to
Europe along with trade goods
First appeared in Sicily in 1347 and eventually
spread all over Europe by 1352
The Spread of the Plague
How can you get the Plague by the
air?
Medieval Art & the Plague
Bring out your dead!
Treatment and “cures” for the
plague (14th century)
• In the 14th century, knowledge of disease was
non-existent.
• They believed it was caused by bad vapors or
blood imbalances.
• The treatment used to ‘cure’ plague would
seem bizarre by modern standards.
1.Bathing in human urine.
2. Placing dead animals in the home.
3.Use of leeches or bleeding the individual.
Other Ineffective Cures
Pomanders-a pocket full of orange peels
flowers or chopped snake
 Wearing a bird-beak mask filled with
cloves and flowers
 Flagellation-whipping oneself with iron
spikes to earn God’s forgiveness
 Repentance of Sins
 The Dance of the Dead-graveyard
dancing
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The beak is a primitive gas mask,
stuffed with substances thought to
ward off the plague.
The Blame Game- “it’s the Jews’
Fault”
Many Europeans massacred Jews
because they believed Jews had
poisoned wells in order to spread the
disease
 They also blamed God’s anger and
misalignment of the stars
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Attempts to Stop the Plague
Pograms against the Jews
“Jew” hat
“Golden Circle”
obligatory badge
Flagellants-people that whipped
themselves to try to rid the Plague
The Dance of Death
Plague as a biological weapon
Plague has a long history as a biological
weapon. Historical accounts from
medieval Europe detail the use of
infected animal carcasses, by Mongols,
Turks and other groups, to infect enemy
water supplies.
 Plague victims were also reported to have
been tossed by catapult into cities under
siege.
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This child’s game/ Nursery Rhyme
originated as a result of the Plague
“Ring around the rosy,
a pocket full of posies,
ashes, ashes
(atishoo-atishooviolent sneezing), we
all fall down”
TREATMENT FOR PLAGUE
TODAY
Since the plague is caused by a bacteria, we
have a very effective means of treating
outbreaks.
What type of medication is used to treat
most bacterial infections ?
ANSWER: Penicillin or Antibiotics
HISTORY CHANGED-How did the
Black Death change the world?
Anywhere from 1/3 to maybe as much as ½ of
Europe’s population died (25-50 million)
 Farmers were forced to diversify crops
 Peasants rebelled against the nobles and were
set free or demanded higher wages
 Working-class poor moved to cities to earn
more money (cities grew)
 Feudal lords (nobles) lost power to kings and
merchant class
Period 3 Ends with aristocrats losing some power
to middle class merchants and townspeople and
kings
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