The Black Death

The Black Death

Introduction

Europe in the first half of the 14th century seemed to be preparing itself for significant
changes. Cities grew in importance, though most of the population was still rural.
Population increases had led to overuse of the available land. Poor harvests—also due
to cooler, wetter weather—led to famines. The serf system was being undermined.
Centralized political authority was becoming more powerful. Then the Black Death cut a
path—both literal and figurative—through the middle of the 14th century. The disease
was caused by the bubonic plague, which was spread by rats, whose fleas carried the
plague bacilli from the East along trade routes until it penetrated almost all of Europe,
killing at least one out of every three people.

Such a radical alteration in population in any place, at any time, would likely set off
dramatic changes in society. What happened in a Europe already beginning to
transform itself? In this lesson, you will analyze a powerpoint, maps, firsthand accounts,
and archival documents to trace the path and aftermath of the Black Death.

(source: http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/path-black-death#sect-thelesson )

Instructions:
1. View the Black Plague powerpoint (http://pptpalooza.net/PPTs/EHAP/BlackPlague.ppt

2. Answer the following questions about the Powerpoint in Google Docs using this link:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dDVjY3BtLWhJQVBMNERsb
XdIelc0R0E6MQ :
a. What were the 3 culprits?
b. How were the famine and the Black Plagued connected?
c. What are the symptoms?
d. List the Disease Cycle.
e. How did a writer named Boccacio describe how fast the plague could kill you?
f. What attempts were used to stop the plague? (the are 5 listed)
g. Read the “Little Macabre Ditty” According to the poem what was the first sign of the
Plague?
h. How many people died from the Plague?

Extra Credit
i. What do you think the plague did to people’s social lives?
j. Is it possible for such a thing to ever happen again? Explain why or Why not?

3. Read the article about the Black Plague and answer these questions
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=black+plague&view=detail&id=4B46FE1366DCCF2146
82839C4BDBB9155794B5DE&first=1

a. How did the man come in contact with the plague
b. What was it like for him?
c. How many cases are there a year in the USA?

3. Complete the Map activity below:

The Path of the Black Death — http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=675

The Path of the Black Death in Europe

Student Name __________________________________________________ Date ________________

A
ctivity 1: Mapping the Black Death
Use the map of Europe attached at the end of this document showing the cities and
regions affected by the Black Death. For reference, use this map from the Decameron
Web, and this other one showing the spread of the Black Death from the Geoffrey
Chaucer site.

The Black Death is first reported in Messina, Italy, on the island of Sicily, in October,
1347, and then moves through Europe. Below are the likely dates of the arrival of the
Black Death in a variety of cities:

Genoa, Italy January, 1348
Pisa, Italy February, 1348
Marseilles, France February, 1348
Rome, Italy March, 1348
Avignon, France March, 1348
Valencia, Spain May, 1348
Paris, France June, 1348
London, England June, 1349
Liege, Belgium June, 1349
Hamburg, Germany, June 1350

Your task is to trace the path of the Black Death through Europe by locating these cities
and looking for patterns. What can you learn about the source, spread, and extent of the
disease?

Using the same map, place numbers—some duplicated—on the map.
Place a:
• 1 on Messina.
• 2 on Genoa
• 3 on Pisa
• 3 on Marseilles
• 4 on Rome
• 4 on Avignon
• 5 on Valencia
• 6 on Paris
• 7 on London
• 7 on Liege
• 8 on Hamburg

The duplicate numbers indicate that the plague arrived in two cities at about the same
time. Do you notice any patterns? What are they?

Now draw a:
1. Dotted line connecting numbers 1 to 4 from Messina to Rome.
2. Dashed line connecting numbers 1 to 7 from Messina to Paris.
3. Solid line connecting numbers 6 to 8 from Paris to Hamburg.
Go to the Medieval Trade Routes Map
http://www.ucalgary.ca/HIST/tutor/imagemid/hanseatic.gif
Using the information on your map and on Medieval Trade Routes, and consulting as
necessary the arrival dates of the plague as listed above, answer the following:
1. Is it more likely that the plague originally entered Europe on the Venetian or Genoese
trade route? Cite some evidence for your answer.

2. Did the plague seem to travel more quickly along the shipping routes or overland?
Cite some evidence for your answer.

3. How do you believe the plague traveled to Paris, overland or along the shipping
routes? Cite some evidence for your answer.

4. Why did the plague take so long to reach London, when it had arrived in nearby Paris
a year earlier? Cite some evidence for your answer.

5. How do you believe the plague traveled to Hamburg, overland or along the shipping
routes? Cite some evidence for your answer.

6. Is it possible, given the information you have, to tell if the plague traveled to Hamburg
overland directly from Genoa or by way of Paris? Cite some evidence for your answer.

In exactly 25 words summarize what the Black Plague was about: