The Black Death: A Medieval Tale of Desperation and Despair

1. 1250 – 1300life is pretty good • New Towns • Charters • Economy growing • Then….

2. Hansel and Gretel The fairy tale may have originated in the medieval period of the Great Famine (1315–1321) which caused people to do some desperate deeds like abandoning young children to fend for themselves, or even resorting to cannibalism (the witch).

3. The Black Death Who knows, but it’s a good story… Ring around the Rosie Pocket full of Posies Ashes, Ashes… We all fall down

4. There have been three major outbreaks of plague. • The Plague of Justinian in the 6th and 7th centuries • 40% of the population of Constantinople died • Black Death of the 14th century. • China in the 1890s

5. The Black Death 1348 and 1350 Thought to have started in China Spread by the invading Mongols

6. Caffa

7. The Black Death 1348 and 1350 14th Century Rats carried Fleas on Merchant ships from Caffa

8. The Black Death 1348 and 1350 14th Century Rats and Fleas quickly spread disease once the ships landed in Italy

9. "Most of them remained in their houses, either through poverty or in hopes of safety, and fell sick by thousands. Since they received no care and attention, almost all of them died. Many ended their lives in the streets both at night and during the day; and many others who died in their houses were only known to be dead because the neighbors smelled their decaying bodies. With the aid of porters, if they could get them, they carried the bodies out of the houses and laid them at the door; Most victims were interred in mass graves.

10. The Doctor There was no Cure

11. Children were abandoned People were killed as they tried to enter new town

12. Catholic Church had no answers • Witchcraft and Magic

13. Catholic Church had no answers • Witchcraft and Magic Heresies gain followings Religious doctrine in opposition to or different to the Catholic church

14. Catholic Church had no answers • Witchcraft and Magic Heresies gain followings Wild pleasures

15. Catholic Church had no answers • Witchcraft and Magic Heresies gain followings Wild pleasures Flagellants – Plague was God’s punishment “to suffer as Christ..” so…they beat themselves Huge movement despite Catholic Churches stance

16. Catholic Church had no answers • Witchcraft and Magic Heresies gain followings Wild pleasures Flagellants - God’s punishment Blamed Jews – • Claimed they poisoned the water • Thousands were slaughtered • The Pope condemned the action

17. The Black Death 1348 and 1350 Estimated to have killed 40% – 60% of Europe 150 to 175 Million people may have died No one really knows

18. Impact on Europe Economy suffers • Workers/Employers died • Survivors asked for higher wages • Wheat fields to sheep fields - Higher price of bread • Statute of Labourers (1351) – Henry III