Warm-Up B2

Answer the 2 questions in the second concept column – The Crusades.

The Black DeathThe Bubonic Plague

• A plague is a contagious disease that spreads rapidly and kills many people.

• The Black Death was a period in history when Europe and much of the world’s population was greatly reduced by the Bubonic Plague.

What is a plague?

What plague was responsible for the Black Death?

The Black DeathOrigin

• The Bubonic Plague or Black Death originated in China.

• This disease would not just remain in China, but spread to large parts of Asia and Europe.

• A disease that spreads so widely is called a pandemic.

Where did the Black Death originate?

What is a pandemic?

The Black DeathSpread out of China

• The bubonic plague was carried by rodents. Fleas that would travel on rodents like rats, could transfer the bacteria from the rat to a human through their bites.

• The disease travelled from China along the Silk Road to the Middle East.

• The plague spread incredibly quickly.

What carried the bubonic plague, and what would transfer this bacteria to humans?

How did the Black Death spread out of China?

The Black DeathSpread to Europe

• After the Crusades the Italians began to trade with the Muslims in the Middle East.

• This trade opened Europe to the spread of the Black Death.

• Between 1347-1351 Europe lost anywhere from 25-50% of its population.

How did the Crusades open Europe up to receiving this terrible disease?

In four years approximately how many died in Europe from the Black Death?

The Black DeathSpread to Europe

• The lack of scientific or medical knowledge contributed to the spread of the disease.

• Some believed it was God punishing the sins of people; people called flagellants would whip themselves in public. This actually helped spread the disease through their open wounds.

• Cats were slaughtered out of superstition, of course once the cats were killed the population of rats dramatically increased.

What helped contribute to the spread of the disease in Europe?

The Black DeathImpact

• The plague destroyed large sections of Europe’s population, hitting all socioeconomic levels (rich or poor it did not matter).

• The plague devastated the labor force, which led many to abandon the manor and move to cities.

• Without a large supply of workers, the lords were forced to begin paying serfs to work their fields.

Who in Europe did the plague effect?

In what way did the Black Death destroy the manor system in Europe?

The Black DeathImpact

• The plague did not just affect manorialism, but feudalism as well.

• Feudalism weakened even more as people abandoned the oaths/promises they made together as they tried to avoid infection.

• The influence of the Catholic Church would continue to decrease as it could not provide a reasonable explanation for such a terrible disaster.

How did the Black Death affect feudalism?

How did the Black Death affect the Catholic Church?

1. What plague was responsible for the Black Death?2. Where did the Black Death originate?3. What carried the bubonic plague, and what would transfer this

bacteria to humans?4. How did the Black Death spread out of China?5. How did the Crusades open Europe up to receiving this terrible

disease?6. What helped contribute to the spread of the disease in Europe?7. Who in Europe did the plague effect?8. In what way did the Black Death destroy the manor system in

Europe?9. How did the Black Death affect feudalism?10. How did the Black Death affect the Catholic Church?