the great mortality. transmission of black death or bubonic plague spread by fleas on backs of...

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

airborne bacteria and flea bites

Silk road, emerging trade routes, Mongol warfare

Poor more vulnerable due to hygiene, crowding, poor diet

Quarantine, no cure

Jews blamed

virus, transmitted by bodily fluids—sex, needle sharing

Often by mobile people (truck drivers, etc.), prostitution,

Poor lack economic options, leads to prostitution, dirty needles, lack of education, women dependent on men

Drugs (if can afford), no cure

Gay men, poor blamed

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"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?