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History 210: The Black Death and its consequences

Explore the catastrophic impact of the Black Death and the Little Ice Age, from freezing rivers to severe famines across Europe and Asia. Delve into the origins, spread, and devastating consequences of the Bubonic Plague in the 14th century, as seen through historical records and literary works. Witness the haunting portrayal of Death's relentless march through lands and societies, leaving devastation in its wake.

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History 210: The Black Death and its consequences

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  1. History 210: The Black Death and its consequences

  2. Nature strikes back!Little Ice Age, ca. 1300-1850 CE: • Early 1300s: Four centuries of warmer temperatures in the northern hemisphere came to an end. • in 1309-1310 Thames River froze over • China extremely severe winters 36 of the 100 years of the 14th century. • Shipping was disrupted in the northern seas, and some higher elevations were no longer habitable, as were areas in Greenland, Norway, and Finland. • Colder temperatures in the far north also meant lower rainfall globally. • Famine was a key result (Malthusian)

  3. The Pestilence, 1320s-1370s • Bubonic Plague and Anthrax, later called the “Black Death” (also possibly typhus, smallpox, and influenza) • Origin was likely Central Asia, whence it spread east and west

  4. Spread of the Pestilence, 1320s-1370s

  5. China suffered first • Initial outbreak was in Hubei province in 1334: up to 90 percent of population died, five million people. • Ebbed and flowed • 1353-54 up to two thirds of China’s population died prematurely.

  6. Kaffa (Caffa) incident, 1346 • Genoan trading port in Crimea (est. 1266) • Made a deal with “Tartars” – “Golden Horde” or more accurately – Kipchak Khanate • Deal broke; siege resulted • Source: Genoese notary Gabriele de’ Mussi • More likely, trade from the Black Sea in general spread it to Europe and North Africa.

  7. Europe, 1348-1350 • Estimates vary, one quarter to one third, about 35 million people died. • Hit cities and towns very hard (but also remote villages?) • e.g. Florence’s population reduced from 110-120,000 in 1338 to 50,000 in 1351

  8. Middle East • Not as much or as reliable data. • Mortality particularly high in rural areas, esp. Judea and Syria. • City records are better: • in 1348 Gaza lost 10,000 • Aleppo death rate was 500 per day in 1348 • Damascus experienced 1000 deaths per day (25-35 percent overall) • Syria lost 400,000 by March 1349.

  9. William Langland, Piers Plowman (c. 1330-1387) • “So Nature killed many through corruptions,
Death came driving after her and dashed all to dust, Kings and knights, emperors and popes;
He left no man standing, whether learned or ignorant; Whatever he hit stirred never afterwards. Many a lovely lady and their lover-knights swooned and died in sorrow of Death’s blows….. For God is deaf nowadays and will not hear us. And for our guilt he grinds good men to dust.”

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