1. The Black Death The Plague

2. Did the world need the plague? • Consequences and Effects of the Black Death plague • Prices and Wages rose • Greater value was placed on labor • Farming land was given over to pasturing, which was much less labor-intensive *Information retrieved from: http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/black-death.htm

3. Consequences and Effects of the Plague (cont.) • This change in farming led to a boost in the cloth and woolen industry • Peasants moved from the country to the towns • The Black Death was therefore also responsible for the decline of the Feudal system • People became disillusioned with the church and its power and influence went into decline • This resulted in the English reformation

4. The Black Death Facts • This terrible plague started in Europe in 1328 and lasted until 1351 although there were outbreaks for the next sixty years - The disease was called the Black Death because one of the symptoms produced a blackening of the skin around the swellings or buboes. - Nearly one third of the population of died - about 200 million people in Europe • 7500 victims of the disease were dying every day

5. Causes of the Plague • The Black Death was spread by fleas that were carried by rats or other small rodents • The spread of the Black Death followed all of the Trade Routes to every country • Contact with an infected person

6. Symptoms of the Plague • Painful swellings (buboes) of the lymph nodes • These swellings, or buboes, would appear in the armpits, legs, or neck • A bubo was at first a red color. The bubo then turned a dark purple color, or black • a very high fever • Delirium

7. Symptoms (continued) • the victim begins to vomit • muscular pains • bleeding in the lungs • mental disorientation • The plague also produced in the victim an intense desire to sleep, which, if yielded to, quickly proved fatal • Victims only lived between2 -4 days after contracting the deadly disease

8. Treatments for the Plague • During the middle ages: - a concoction of herbs - leeching Today- antibiotics