Happy Haiku Hump-Day!
Create a haiku about the Middle Ages
5 syllables
7 syllables
5 syllables

September 4, 1951– President Truman makes
the first transcontinental television broadcast

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFO2iep
mtjU

“We see death coming into our midst like
black smoke, a plague which cuts off the
young, a rootless phantom which has no
mercy or fair countenance. Woe is
me…It is an ugly eruption that comes
with unseemly haste. It is a grievous
ornament that breaks out in a rash. The
early ornaments of black death.”




Plague – contagious disease that spreads
quickly and infects large numbers of people
Epidemic – outbreak of rapid-spreading
disease
Pandemic – epidemic of infectious disease that
has spread through human populations across
a large region
Black Death – specific outbreak of bubonic
plague in 14th century






1. In complete sentences, trace the path of the
plague from its origin to final destination.
2. Where did the plague start in Europe?
3. How did the Bubonic Plague come into
Europe?
4. How were cities ideal breeding grounds for
the plague?
5. Why did the Black Death inspire such fear?
6. How did the Black Death lead to social
disorder?
The Path of the Plague
The Path of the Plague
Originated in China
Into Black Sea ports to Sicily
Spread through Italy into rest of Europe
Appears in Europe
Appears in Europe
First appears in Sicily and Italy
Gets into Europe
Gets into Europe
Rats carried infected fleas
Rats came over on merchant ships
Fleas bit infected rats which then bit humans
Breeding Grounds
Breeding Grounds
Houses close together
Garbage & human waste in the streets
Rats & fleas commonplace in homes of rich & poor alike
The Spread of Fear
The Spread of Fear
Highly contagious
No cure
Social Disorder
Social Disorder
Crops rotted
Peasants revolted
Survivors lived in fear of outbreaks


Rowmasters…please pass down the reading
“Plague in Siena”
After you read the first-hand account of the
plague in the city of Siena, answer the
following questions:

1. What horrors did the author,
Agnolo di Tura, witness as the
plague ravaged the city?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZy6XilX
DZQ



Students will be assigned groups of three to
create a Medieval newspaper
Students must write their articles from the
point of view of someone living in 14th century
Europe
Each paper should have:
News Story – what happened at certain time & how
people reacted
 Editorial – opinions and author takes a position on
where it came from and how it ended
 Feature Article – more broad and explains how the
path of the of the disease and how it spread
