Historical Change Event
Who?
The people of the Middle Ages
Who were the major players or influential people involved in this
historical event?
What? I
What was the historical event? What were the significant facts
surrounding the event?
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What? II
What difference did this event make in people’s lives or in the
world?
When?
When did the event take place? Specific date? Years? Decades?
Where?
The Black Death, or the Black Plague, was a pandemic that
spread across Europe in the later period of the Middle Ages
It originally began in China in 1333, killing 5 million people
in the Hubei province alone.
Then, the disease spread from China through means of the
Silk Road, because of traitors and soldiers that traveled
along it.
In October of 1347 a fleet of plague-infected ships coming
from the Middle East landed in Messina, Italy, arrived. This
was the beginning of the Plague in Europe.
Smaller outbreaks of the Black Plague occurred for
centuries: 1402 in Iceland, 1629 around Italy, 1665 in
England and Ireland, 1679 in Austria area, and 1721 Russia.
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The plague spread rapidly, and in four years it killed
somewhere between one third of the entire population in
Europe at that time
 It made the Middle Ages a very miserable, dark time
The Plague began in China in 1333, but reached Europe in October
of 1347, during the later part of the Middle Ages, or Medieval Era.
All around Europe, and also in China and across the Silk Road into
Where did the event occur?
the Middle East.
Why?
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Why was this event considered such an evolution/change in
history?
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One positive change was so many people died that there
weren’t many people to work the fields and harvest/plant
crops. Because of this, peasants were actually able to
demand more money and more rights.
There was a huge change in Europe, a third to two thirds of
the population died, resulting in major de-urbanization
It was most likely the largest epidemic to date
Why did the Black Death kill so many people?
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Firstly, Europe was already in a tough time with wars, famine, and bad weather. Hunger makes people much more susceptible to
illness
Secondly, medicine at the time of the Plague wasn’t really medicine, it was mostly based on religious beliefs.
Most of all, there was no hygiene whatsoever; baths were taken once of year, and no attention was paid to washing hands, or
proper disposal of garbage and waste.
What was the Black Plague?
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Today, many scientists believe the Plague was actually a form of the bubonic plague, which is caused by a bacteria called Yersinia
pestis.
The bubonic plague is usually found in rodents, but it can be spread when a flea found on a rat jumps onto a human.
Bumps called buboes spread on you when you were infected, oozing pus and blood on people’s necks, armpits, and groin. Black
patches and boils also appeared on the skin.
People infected usually died within a week after symptoms began.
Some scientists believe it could be another disease like anthrax, ebola, small pox, or even a combination, including the bubonic
plague.
Source: http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/worldhistory/blackdeath/
A Bit of Background:
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During the High Middle Ages, Europe was very prosperous and expanded remarkably (1050 – 1300 CE)
Towards the end of the 1200s and the end of the High Middle Ages, the growing population began to be too much for the yield
that was being harvested from the overworked farmland and famine was imminent.
In addition, for some unknown reason, Europe’s climate dramatically cooled, becoming wetter and colder. This time is known
as “The Little Ice Age”.
The Little Ice Age had a significant impact on the agriculture at that time. The increased rainfall also led to flooding, which is
clearly very detrimental to the harvesting of crops.
Beginning in 1315, the amount of rain became too much for crops, which didn’t grow. The lack of sun, cooler temperatures
and humidity prevented evaporation, along with photosynthesis for plants, resulting in virtually no crops and the Famine of
1315-17.
Negative Effects:
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Death – so many people died
Fear, depression, helplessness – overall, the Plague was a dark period for Europe as a whole
Flagellants – people would literally inflict all kinds of physical pain upon themselves to make up for their sins
Wealth – many people became extremely poor because of al their donations to the church and to God
Positive Effects:
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Largely increased rights –for those peasants who remained uninfected because of all the work that needed to be done and
the limited manpower available
The end of serfdom – Because so many lords and upper class families sold their estates due to bankruptcy, serfdom, which
was a practice where families were forced to work for a richer family because their ancestors did previously, largely
decreased in occurrence
Workers revolts – because of the increased rights for workers, many people began to fight for more rights, for instance,
French workers revolted in 1358 to improve their circumstances, as well as Italians in 1378, and the Peasants’ Revolt in
1381
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The rise of Industry – agriculture faced many struggles during the time of the Plague, and, as a result, industry became
increasingly popular in the years following the Black Death
Development of medicine – since many doctors and priests tended to the sick during the time of the Plague, they had a
much more increased chance of becoming infected and therefor a vast majority died due to the sickness. Thus, Islamic
doctors who had been advocating for basic hygiene and studying anatomy finally began to get their message across. As a
result, there was an advancement in Western medicine subsequent to the plague
Summary of Change Event (one paragraph):
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In 1333, a plague began in the Hubei Province of China, killing 5 million people. Over the years, plague infected merchants,
soldiers, and items traveled along the Silk Road to the Middle East. Then, in October of 1347, ships unknowingly carrying
the disease arrived in Messina, Italy. In four years, the plague swept across Europe, killing an estimate of one third of the
population. Although it was a tragic event, it did provide several positive changes. These changes would include a large
improvement in the working class’s rights and wealth. In addition, industry became much more commonly found
throughout Europe after agriculture faced so many challenges recently before and during 1347. Yet another positive
impact of the epidemic was a dramatic development in Western medicine after a vast majority of medieval doctors were
killed by the plague when treating victims. Although there were a few positive changes, the negative changes do outweigh
the positives. The most staggering and prominent effect would certainly be the number of Europeans killed due to the
Black Death, which historians estimate may have reached 20 million, just in the course of four years. Those who did
survive the plague, however, were not at all happy living in constant fear, depression, and the feeling of helplessness.
Source: http://www.usu.edu/markdamen/1320Hist&Civ/chapters/06PLAGUE.htm
Feelings that Could Be Associated with the Black Death:
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Miserable – overall, the plague was a miserable part of European history because of how many people died and people
lived in constant fear of getting sick or losing their loved ones. The consequences of losing so many people were: hunger,
attack
Depression – the loss of loved ones, community, lack of food, among other things would have caused a grim and
depressing life
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Helplessness – no one knew how to stop the sickness that spread across Europe like wildfire; no one could offer any
solutions and people were forced to watch their communities suffer
Fear – people were living in constant fear of being infected, not having enough food, scared for the loss of loved ones.
Relief – when the Plague finally ended in 1352
Confusion – many wondered what the plague was and how they could stop it