The Black DeathThe Black Death

1347-1351, 13611347-1351, 1361

The Black Death, 1347-1351The Black Death, 1347-1351 PreconditionsPreconditions

– Food Shortages (1310s) lead to Food Shortages (1310s) lead to death, disease, and malnutritiondeath, disease, and malnutrition

– Concentration of populations in cities Concentration of populations in cities and townsand towns

– International TradeInternational Trade Progress of disease Progress of disease

– Asian origins: Caffa on Black Sea Nov-Asian origins: Caffa on Black Sea Nov-Dec 1347 Dec 1347

– To Mediterranean by end of To Mediterranean by end of DecemberDecember

– Clockwise spiral through 1348 to Clockwise spiral through 1348 to 13501350

Spread of the PlagueSpread of the Plague

Three varieties spread by fleas on Three varieties spread by fleas on black ratsblack rats– Bubonic: 50-60 Percent Die in 3-4 DaysBubonic: 50-60 Percent Die in 3-4 Days– Pneumonic: 75-80 Percent Die in 1-2 Pneumonic: 75-80 Percent Die in 1-2

DaysDays– Septicaemic: 95-100 Percent Die in 1 Septicaemic: 95-100 Percent Die in 1

DayDay Caused by poor sanitation in citiesCaused by poor sanitation in cities Interpersonal contact and infectionInterpersonal contact and infection

Spread of the PlagueSpread of the Plague

The Black Death The Black Death (continued)(continued)

Results:Results:– 30-40 % of population died30-40 % of population died– Groups Affected: young, old, poor, & Groups Affected: young, old, poor, &

most cities (Venice, Florence, Genoa, most cities (Venice, Florence, Genoa, Paris)Paris)

– Villages and towns disappear: 40,000 in Villages and towns disappear: 40,000 in Germany by 1450 (24 % of pre-plague Germany by 1450 (24 % of pre-plague total)total)

– Medical “care” via trial and (much) errorMedical “care” via trial and (much) error– Medical training theoretical rather than Medical training theoretical rather than

practicalpractical

The Black Death The Black Death (continued)(continued)

Results:Results:– 30-40 % of population decimated30-40 % of population decimated– Groups Affected: young, old, poor, & Groups Affected: young, old, poor, &

urban (examples: Venice, Genoa, Paris)urban (examples: Venice, Genoa, Paris)– Villages and towns disappear: 40,000 in Villages and towns disappear: 40,000 in

Germany by 1450 (24 % of pre-plague Germany by 1450 (24 % of pre-plague total)total)

– Medical “care” via trial and (much) errorMedical “care” via trial and (much) error Recurrences Recurrences

– 6 more outbreaks by 14066 more outbreaks by 1406– Comes back again till late 17Comes back again till late 17thth century century– European population down 75 % by 1450European population down 75 % by 1450

The Black Death: Short-term The Black Death: Short-term ImpactImpact

Profound psychological uncertaintyProfound psychological uncertainty Life seen as cheapLife seen as cheap Adoption of extreme attitudes: Adoption of extreme attitudes:

hedonism and asceticismhedonism and asceticism Seach for scapegoatsSeach for scapegoats

Hedonism: Portrayal in Hedonism: Portrayal in Boccaccio’s Boccaccio’s The DecameronThe Decameron

(1351)(1351)

FlagellantsFlagellants Flagellants were groups Flagellants were groups

of Christians who of Christians who subjected themselves to subjected themselves to ritualized whipping as ritualized whipping as atonement for sin.atonement for sin.

Low Countries and Low Countries and Germany, 1348-49Germany, 1348-49

Attack priests and JewsAttack priests and Jews In 1349, the Church In 1349, the Church

declared the flagellants declared the flagellants were heretics.were heretics.

Scapegoats: Image of Jews Poisoning WellsScapegoats: Image of Jews Poisoning Wells

Result: Persecution of JewsResult: Persecution of Jews

Intermediate Impact: Economic Intermediate Impact: Economic Change and RebellionsChange and Rebellions

Social Dislocations Social Dislocations on Farms and in on Farms and in CitiesCities– Wages increaseWages increase– High demand for High demand for

luxury goodsluxury goods– Rent not dues Rent not dues

French Jacquerie, French Jacquerie, 13581358– Rural terrorismRural terrorism

Urban Revolts: Urban Revolts: Ciompi, 1378Ciompi, 1378

English Peasants’ English Peasants’ Revolt, 1381Revolt, 1381

Long-Term Impacts of PlagueLong-Term Impacts of Plague

Family structure: men marry youngerFamily structure: men marry younger Gendering of the workplaceGendering of the workplace General obsession with deathGeneral obsession with death

– Ars moriendiArs moriendi– Human/people centeredHuman/people centered– L’danse macabre or the TotentanzL’danse macabre or the Totentanz

Dancing with DeathDancing with Death

Dancing with DeathDancing with Death

Long-Term Impacts of PlagueLong-Term Impacts of Plague

Family structure: men marry youngerFamily structure: men marry younger Gendering of the workplaceGendering of the workplace Generalized obsession with deathGeneralized obsession with death

– Sermons, Wills, “Ring Around the rosy”Sermons, Wills, “Ring Around the rosy”– Ars moriendi:Ars moriendi: preoccupation with death in preoccupation with death in

artart– L’danse macabre or the TotentanzL’danse macabre or the Totentanz– Leveling of SocietyLeveling of Society– Human/People CenteredHuman/People Centered

Emancipation of the peasantry Emancipation of the peasantry