The Bubonic Plague: Origins, Impact, and Legacy in Europe

1. AP Review Session # 1Units I and IIChapters 13-16

2. The Bubonic Plague • First emerged in the 14th century (1347) • Dispute as to where it originated, but most likely from Asia • Brought to Western Europe via merchant ships carrying infected rats • A.K.A. Black Plague, Black Death

3. Background • Europe was overpopulated in the 14th century • There was a shortage in food, therefore much of Europe was malnourished • Where’s the food?... Bad weather and poor harvests led to famine

4. How it is Contracted/Spread • Flea carries bacteria, catches a ride on the rat • Bacteria multiply in flea’s stomach • Flea bites human and spreads bacteria • Infected human spreads bacteria to another human

5. Symptoms • Develop a large growth (called a buba) on your neck, groin or armpit • You could have the buba lanced (cut off), but there were no guarantees of survival • Extreme pain • Black spots or blotches due to internal bleeding • Violent coughing of blood • Death comes within 1 week. No cure at that time

6. 2 Forms of the Plague • Bubonic- flea was the transmitter of the bacteria. • Pneumonic- human to human transmission of the disease. • 14th century Europe did make attempts at some sanitation & hygiene, but to no avail. • Closeness was a factor… 6-8 people often slept in one room.

7. Impact on Population • Estimates range from 1/3 to 1/2 of Europe’s population depleted (75 million worldwide) • Villages destroyed and survivors moved to cities for jobs • Cities hit the hardest due to overcrowding & sanitation problems • All social classes affected, but mainly the lower class • The Plague continued throughout the 18th century (1700’s) • Cure is discovered in 1947 by an American

8. Social & Economic Impact • No one knew what to do or how it spread. • Less people in Europe meant more food and jobs to go around. Good thing! • However, an inflation did occur due to lack of production. Food more costly • Workers fought for better wages & standard of living. Rebellions occured • The Hundred Years’ War would produce more destruction

9. Impact on the Church • Population lost faith in clergy members who claimed they could cure victims • Theories emerged that God was punishing the Europeans, Christians blamed the Jews • Extreme groups formed like the flagellants who would beat themselves as punishment for society’s sins • The church lost much of its clergy, church reforms would soon emerge

10. Cultural Impact • European society grew very pessimistic about life in general • Angry about their losses • Literature, art, and music emphasize death and the plague • New universities formed at this time due to the “decay of learning” during the plague

11. The Babylonian Captivity, the Great Schism, and the Hundred Years’ War

12. The “Babylonian Captivity” 1309-1376 * The Catholic Church and the monarchies of Europe were at odds since the 13th century • They would fight over land, policies, and control • Philip the Fair of France pressured Pope Clement V to relocate the papal residence to an area called Avignon (SE France) so that he could control the church and its policies. - About 70 years • Called the “Babylonian Captivity” to make reference to the ancient Hebrews and their captivity in Mesopotamian Babylon

14. Problems…. • Many Christians were opposed to the papacy’s distance from its roots in Rome • Many felt the Church was too focused on policies and not enough on spiritual matters • Rome became poor over the absence of the pope and the tourist trade • Pope Gregory XI returned the papacy to Rome in 1377, but died shortly after • The Roman citizens demanded that an Italian pope become Gregory’s successor • This led to…..

15. ….The Great Schism1378-1417 • The College of Cardinals felt great pressure to elect an Italian to be the next pope • They elect Pope Urban VI in 1378 • Pope Urban planned to reform the Church of its abuses • Brought the papal seat back to Rome • While Urban had good intentions, he went about it the wrong way by threatening many people!

16. More Problems… • Pope Urban’s actions brought about disaster as many French cardinals disputed his legitimacy as pope • They elected Pope Clement VII, a relative of King Charles V of France who would live in Avignon • There are now 2 popes, hence the “Great Schism”- or division • Many countries threw their support for one pope or the other based on political motivations • The schism weakened the faith of many Christians and they questioned the Church

17. The Conciliar Movement • The schism of the Catholic Church led many Christians to question its authority. • Many called for reform in the Church. • The Conciliarists believed that the pope should gain his political power from the people, not from a king (democratic thought) • Scholars like John Wyclif & Jan Hus believed that the Church should only be concerned with the Scriptures and Christian teachings

18. An End to the Schism • In 1409, the Council of Pisa, consisting of cardinals from both Rome and Avignon deposed the 2 reigning popes and elected a new one • The 2 previous popes would not step down, there were now 3 popes! • The Council of Constance was then called (1414-1418) and all 3 popes were deposed. Martin V, a Roman, became pope. • The “Great Schism” was over. Future popes would never again have the power of those before them.

19. The Hundred Years’ War1337-1453 • #1 Cause: Succession to the throne of France. Edward III vs. Philip VI • Edward III of England’s uncle in France died childless • Edward had the right to the French throne, but the French nobles gave the throne to a distant relative, Philip VI • Edward III and Philip VI dispute became the basis for the Hundred Years’ War • England and France have been historic enemies

20. England’s Victories • England gained early victories: • Led by Edward III and his son, the Black Prince • Won important battles at Crecy (1346), Poitiers (1356), Agincourt (1415) • Formed an alliance with the Burgundians

21. France’s Victories • France will officially win the war in 1453 • Joan of Arc (1412-1431) emerges during this period • She is given command of an army & lifts the morale • Believed she was chosen by God for this mission • Dresses like a man in battle. Scandalous! • Burned at the stake by the English in 1431 for being a “witch”

22. Results of the War • Added death and destruction (aside from what the Black Plague did) • Heavy taxes led to peasant revolts • England lost £5 million to the war • Representative democracies emerge throughout Europe during this time period. The English Parliament grows stronger. Not in France • Nationalism develops: Feelings of unity and pride in your country • The rise of intelligent thought through the upcoming Renaissance time period

23. The Renaissance

24. Renaissance defined: • Used to describe a movement that sought to imitate and understand the culture of antiquity (the time period before the Middle Ages) • “rebirth” of Greek and Roman classics • Applies to art, politics, and science • Praises individual achievement

25. Background/ Possible causes • Emerged in central Italy in the 14th century • No exact beginning or ending date • Florence • The Medici Family • Wealthy and influential Florentine family • Patronage allowed for the advancement of artwork

26. Possible causes (continued) • The Great Man argument • Leans on the belief that the Ren grew out of the intelligence great men • Fails to explain the different aspects of the Renaissance

27. Possible causes (cont.) • The Black Death theory • The breakdown of trust in the Church led people to think more about life rather than the afterlife • Invention of the printing press • Gutenberg (1450s)

28. Characteristics • Classicalism • Admiration and imitation of the Classical Age • Shown in architecture, literature, art • Humanism • Faith in human intelligence and rationality • Reverence for inherent human beauty • Shown by the idealization of the human body

29. Characteristics (cont.) • Individualism • Appreciation of the individual worth of each human being • Shown in the detail given to each individual in artwork • Secularism • Celebration in the everyday life • Shown in art placing importance on fine clothing, money or anything acquired through wealth

30. Characteristics (cont.) • Realism • Attention to detail made through observance of the real world • Shown through the use of new art techniques and the attention to detail • Rationalism • Development and use of the human mind • Shown through references to learning

31. Italian Renaissance vs. Northern Renaissance Italian Renaissance • attempted to merge the pagan Classical Age with the Christian Middle Ages • Emphasizes Greece and Rome • Emphasizes wealthy upper class • Religious and mythological • Portraits are formal and reserved • Base art on theory

32. Italian Renaissance vs. Northern Renaissance Northern Renaissance • Art is more infused with religion and religious piety (devotion) • Focuses on early Christianity in Rome and Greece • Emphasized the life of commoners and the rising middle class • Appreciation of nature • Oil paint used more = brighter colors

33. Early Renaissance in Italy • Began in Florence soon after 1400 • Main artists: Filippo Brunelleschi, Donatello, and Masaccio • Main task: to merge Classical form with Christian content in creating a new style

34. Architecture • Influenced greatly by Filippo Brunellechi • Studied Roman architect: domes instead of Gothic spires • Utilized a new style called linear, or scientific perspective • Vanishing point • Allowed for three dimensional space

35. Painting: Masaccio • Utilizes linear/scientific perspective • The Holy Trinity

36. Painting: Masaccio (cont.) • The Expulsion from Paradise • Religious theme • Displays human body in motion, as well as human emotion

37. Central and Northern Italy1450-1500 • Built upon the practices of early Ren artists • Intermingles classical themes with religion Botticelli, Primavera. c. 1482

38. High Renaissance • Culmination of the Early Renaissance • Early Ren. = imitated nature • High Ren. = interpreted nature through art • Key artists: • Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael • 1500-1527 • Centered in Rome

39. Leonardo da Vinci • 1452-1519 • Trained in Florence • Contributed to the idea that an artists is an original thinker and a scientist in one • A true “Renaissance Man”

40. Leonardo da Vinci: Mona Lisa. c. 1503-1505 • Who is she? • Why is she smiling? • What do you notice about the landscape? • Wife of a Florentine merchant

41. Raphael (1483-1520) • School of Athens, 1510-1511 • Famous Greek philosophers gather around Plato and Aristotle • Careful attention to symmetry, motion, precision

42. Giotto. Madonna Enthroned. 1310 Raphael. Sistine Madonna. c. 1500s Comparison: Gothic Art (1140-1550) vs. Renaissance Art

43. Michelangelo (1475-1564) • Sistine Chapel. 1508-1512 & 1534-1541 • Scenes depict the early history and the coming of Jesus • Creation, destruction, and the salvation of humanity

44. The Ceiling

45. The Creation of Adam

46. The Last Judgment

48. Diagram of the Sistine Chapel Ceiling

49. More Renaissance Artwork