Plague – widespread disease causing large numbers of deaths

2. Plague – widespread disease causing large numbers of deaths Today – known as a epidemic Pandemic- epidemic covering large area of land “Black Death” – pandemic of a disease called plague

4. How and where it all began Attacked by Tartar army – port controlled by merchants from Genoa - 1347

5. Biological Warfare- After a year of fighting – plague broke out in Tartar army Tartar king before giving up began to catapult infected bodies over the walls of Caffa.

6. City fell ill Genoese merchants fled Plague carried to Europe

7. Speed of the Plague 1347- Sicily Spring 1348 – Paris Fall 1349 - London

8. What was the disease? Bacillus – microbe passed from flea, to rat to man Rodents move freely among humans Fleas jump to man Infect humans

9. Flea preferred rat blood – will bite warm blooded animals – man When rats die out those felt they then became dangerous to man Man and rats lived in close proximity - cities

10. Flea regurgitates the blood from the rodent into a human and infecting the human

11. Symptoms – High fever Aching limbs Vomiting of blood Swelling of lymph nodes neck, armpits, groin

12. Swelling continues and eventually burst Death follows Three - four days Terrible pain

13. Grotesque appearance

14. Forms of the disease Septicemia- attacks the blood Pneumonic – attacks the lungs transmitted through the air Caused by man to man – breathed in by others Both nearly 100% fatal

15. Perfect Conditions- Small villages Little sanitation Man and animals in one shelter Rarely washed Windowless thatched wooded huts

16. Early deaths common- Most children died by age 6 Average lifespan - 35 Attitude – hope for better after-life

17. Official Reaction God’s wrath Cities hardest hit Houses walled up Isolated the healthy Quarantine and isolation

18. Dead left beside door Village priests Mass graves Set on fire

19. Medicine and Magic Best advice- go quickly and far away Few doctors cared for sick Hand me down cures – part Religion, astrology, magic and common sense

20. Ignorant- Stars had battled the sun over India – result – “Great Sea” nearly dried out Rotting fish produced poisonous vapors Giant fires started to straighten out atmospheric disturbance

21. Avoid poultry waterfowl pork old beef fat meats fish too much exercise no cooking with rainwater

22. Medical Practices- Bleeding and purging Cupping

23. Medical Measures Nothing worked Other methods for cures Transmitted by air smell of dead and dying Scents

24. Flagellants People doing public penance “Whipping marches” were orderly and directed towards a shrine Lasted 33 days

25. Felt they were above Church and state 1349- Bill issued- denounced

26. Looking for a scapegoat- Jews Killers of Christ Accused of kidnapping and killing Christian children Jews- had both wealth and education Killing them could rid a lord of creditors

27. Population Loss 25 million died 1347 – 1350 Europe one third of it’s population Two year period 1 -3 died Venice – 60% in 18 months 500 – 600 per day

28. Hardest Hit Doctors Clergy Cities Rural areas

29. Economic Disruptions - Banking Debtors died – creditors could not collect Money for investments Construction stopped Start of capitalism

30. Economic Disruptions - Guilds Lost craftsmen Machinery in disrepair Specialists needed Higher wages

31. Labor Shortage Wages rose Oversupply of goods prices fell Standard of living rose England – 200 years to recover loss

32. Serfs Fewer of ‘em Demands met Rebellions

33. Cultural Effects - Education Fewer teachers Schools closed Education stopped

34. Power of the Church People let down Questioned authority No longer infallible

35. Art – tombs Lord and lady sword, shield Sculptures ornate likeness View of man changes

36. Tone of despair Image of pain, suffering Man is mortal

37. The Plague in song story and oils

38. Piped Piper of Hamlin

39. Victory of Death – Pieter Breugel

40. Mask of the Red Death

41. “Ring ‘round the Rosie”

42. Simple child’s rhyme Ring around the rosies – pink rash A pocked full of posies – perfumed flowers Achoo, Achoo – sneezing brought on by feverish chills We all fall down - dead

43. The 7th Seal

44. The End – Thanks for the chance to be here today