Origins & Spread
Where did the Black Death most likely originate before spreading to Europe?
The grasslands of Mongolia in Central Asia
Which animals played the most significant role in spreading the plague in cities and ports?
Rats and fleas
Which action by Mongol forces at the city of Caffa helped spread the plague?
Launching infected corpses over the city walls
How did the Black Death change economic conditions for surviving workers?
Labor became more valuable
How was the plague most commonly transmitted to humans?
Fleas carried by rodents
Which form of the plague attacked the lungs and could spread through coughing?
Pneumonic
What does the term depopulation most nearly mean?
A sharp decline in population due to death
How did the Black Death weaken the feudal system?
Workers could demand higher wages and better treatment
How did Mongol military expansion contribute to the spread of the Black Death?
By traveling along trade and military routes
Which symptoms was most commonly associated with the bubonic plague?
Painful, swollen lumps (buboes), rosy rash, sneezing, internal bleeding
By 1347, which regions had already been affected by the plague? (Name 1)
Genoa, Constantinople, Alexandria, and Sicily
Which was a significant long-term effect of the Black Death on European society?
Changes in social structure, economy, and beliefs
How did the plague spread from Caffa into Europe?
Through Italian merchants fleeing by ship
What made the Black Death more devastating than earlier plagues?
It spread rapidly and caused widespread death
Why did many medieval Europeans believe the plague was a punishment from God?
Scientific understanding of disease was limited
Which statement best describes the overall impact of the Black Death on Europe?
It led to major social, economic, and belief changes