Slide 1: In the Wake of the Plague
Norman F. Cantor
Presentation By:
Meredith Davis Class-D January 15, 2008
Slide 2: Basic Facts on the Black Death
14 Century Affected most parts of the Mediterranean and Western Europe Black Death- Mass disease that killed many people within a short amount of time, the cause was unknown at the time.
Slide 3: Symptoms/Death Rate
Symptoms-flu-like symptoms, fever, buboes, vomiting, pneumonia. 1/3 of Western Europe’s population was infected and died from 1347-1350.
Slide 4: Plague’s affect on the social ladder
90% of wealth in England in 1340 was in the land.
• • • • 40% land owned by King and royal family 30% land owned by officers and corporations. Less than 30% land owned by rural upper class (gentry) ~2% land owned by free peasants
Once plague hit, status was shifted. Lawyers and Women of gentry class benefited.
Slide 5: Jewish Conspiracy
Some Jews confessed that they poisoned wells. Began in Southern France, and Spain 2.5 million Jews lived in Europe in 14th century.
Slide 6: Heritage/History
Thousands of years ago, East Africa was the birth place of various epidemics. Some pandemic was brought to Mediterranean from Africa and spread. Bad weather before the plague led to weak resistance when it struck.
Slide 7: Aftermath
“The trauma that liberated the new.” Peasants(yeomen)gained power, most wheat was needed. Dowagers gained independence and were successful Art was more religious 100 years war was impacted
