The Black Plague
What was the Black Death and how did it affect Europe?
A disease outbreak in mid-1300s Europe that killed an estimated 1/3 to 1/2 of the population
What was traded between the kingdoms of the Sahara Desert and the Muslims from the Middle East?
Salt for Gold
What was one important impact the Mongol Empire had on trade?
They re-opened and protected Silk Road routes, making travel safer for merchants.
why was the invention of gunpowder significant?
initially for fireworks and later used for weapons (gun and cannon)
What is the Feudal System in Europe?
A social hierarchy made up of king→lords→knights→peasants. Land traded for Loyalty
How did the Black Death spread across Europe?
Fleas on rats aboard merchant ships, person-to-person coughs, and trade caravans along the Silk Road.
Why were African empires like Mali and Ghana able to grow powerful from trade?
They traded salt for gold. Both were extremely valuable along the trade routes.
How did the Mongols encourage cultural diffusion?
What impact did woodblock printing have on the spread of knowledge?
It allowed for the mass-production of books and spreading of information.
What was the role of samurai in the Japanese feudal system?
provide military service to protect their Daimyo and common people.
What were some economic or social effects of the Black Death?
Labor/job shortages due to death > less creation of goods > no money
What important goods did China export during the Middle Ages? Name 2
Silk, Gunpowder, Woodblock Printing, Paper
How did trade contribute to the spread of diseases like the Black Plague?
The Silk Road helped spread the bubonic plague from Asia into Europe as rats travelled in the cargo.
What are other Chinese innovations of the Middle Ages beyond gunpowder and woodblock printing?
Silk, paper, compass
How was Japanese feudalism similar to European feudalism?
Both were social hierarchies. Both had similar social classes such as a warrior class. Both exchanged Loyalty for Land.
Name a long-term consequence of the Black Death.
major population decline, the catholic church losing some power, medications for diseases being created
How did trade contribute to the spread of the Black Plague?
The Mongols brought the plague along the silk road to Europe
What was the key to Mongol success and why they were able to take control of such a vast area in such a short amount of time?
the Horse & Communication
The Chinese Rebels (Red Turbans) created the gun to overthrow the Mongols and expel them from China.
Use the White Board to Label a side-by-side diagram comparing the ranks in Japanese vs. European feudal systems.
Japan: shogun→daimyo→samurai→peasants Europe: king→lords→knights→peasants