black death (1300s). yersinia pestis plague black death – an event; one of the most devastating...

Black Death(1300s)

Yersinia pestis

Plague

• Black Death – An event; one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, resulting in the deaths of 75-200 million people

• Pandemic – epidemic of infectious disease attacking human populations that spreads across multiple continents or around the world

• Plague – deadly infectious disease caused by the bacterium Y. pestis– Pneumonic plague (coughing; attacks lungs)– Bubonic plague (buboes; attacks lymph nodes)

Distribution

• Began in China sometime during the 1330s• Spread throughout Asia, Africa, and Europe within

20 years• Increased trade distributed the plague rapidly• Y. pestis Fleas Rats Ships Everywhere

Siege of Caffa

• Major trading city on the Black Sea (Eastern Europe)• Mongols invade Caffa (today in Crimea, Ukraine)

hoping to control this trade in 1347• Catapulted plague-infected corpses over the castle

walls

Examples of Trade

Junk

• Chinese sailing ship made of teak wood• Flat sails (similarly used in windsurfing) for quick

and sturdy travel

Cog

• Baltic sailing ship made of oak wood• Single mast with a square-shaped sail

Galley

• Mediterranean ship with oars and sails• Mainly used for rowing in European seas

Packhorse

• Any horse, mule, donkey, or pony used for carrying goods on their backs

Pannier

• A basket, bag, or other container holding goods on the back of an animal