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Pathogen: Caused by Yersinia pestis, carried in flea‑infected rodents.

Central Asian Epicentre: Genetic and historical evidence point to natural foci in the semi‑arid steppes of Central Asia (modern Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia), where sylvatic rodent populations (marmots, gerbils) maintained enzootic cycles.

Silk Road Transmission: Caravan routes (overland) and maritime branches (via the Indian Ocean) carried the plague from Central Asia into the Near East and South Asia by the early 1340s.

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Daily Life during the Black Plague #history #animation

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“Black Death Worldwide” (YouTube playlist)

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“Black Death Worldwide” (YouTube playlist)

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A 5-minute educational video on the global impact of the Black Death

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The Black Death: How a Plague Reshaped the World

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China:

Recurring epidemics are traced in Yuan- and early Ming-dynasty records.

A significant outbreak from 1331 to 1351 decimated northern China, with estimates of 25–40 million deaths.

South Asia:

Port cities along the Indian Ocean, such as Calicut and Gujarat, saw the arrival of plague via Arab and Persian trading vessels.

Local records describe rapid mortality and social disruption, though precise figures are scarce.

Middle East & North Africa:

Arrived in Alexandria ca. 1347; spread upriver to Cairo, Damascus, Baghdad.

Chroniclers, such as Ibn Khaldun, noted mortality rates of up to 40–50%.

Trade routes across the Sahara and via the Nile facilitated movement into sub‑Saharan regions.

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North African Epicentres:

Coastal hubs, such as Tunis and Tripoli, experienced repeated waves, disrupting Mediterranean commerce.

Sub‑Saharan Reach:

Trans-Saharan caravans likely carried the disease into Sahelian kingdoms, such as Mali and Songhai, in the mid-14th century.

Oral traditions and archaeological evidence suggest localised outbreaks, though documentation is limited.

Societal Consequences:

Demographic losses undermined regional polities and altered the dynamics of transregional trade, particularly in the exchange of goods such as gold, salt, and ivory.

Some communities adopted ritual practices and isolation measures reminiscent of those used in quarantine.

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Mediterranean Landfalls:

October 1347, Genoese ships docked in Messina; rapid port quarantines began soon after.

Overland Spread:

Followed caravan and riverine routes: through the Balkans into Central Europe, and via the Rhine and Danube corridors northward.

Northern and Eastern Europe:

Reached London and Paris by 1348; Stockholm and Novgorod by 1351.

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Disease Forms: Bubonic, septicemic, pneumonic. Mortality rates varied regionally but often exceeded 50%.

Medical Theories & Quarantine:

Islamic medical scholars (e.g. Ibn al‑Khatib) advanced contagion theories and advocated isolation.

Venice formalized the “quarantino” (40‑day) isolation for arriving ships; similar practices spread throughout Europe and the Levant.

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Demographic Shock:

Asia: Tens of millions of deaths in China and the Middle East.

Europe: 25–50 million (30–60% of population).

Africa: Significant but uneven losses; reshaped urban‑rural dynamics.

Economic Shifts:

Labor shortages elevated wages across Eurasia; eroded rigid feudal or servile systems.

Trade realignments: Decline of some Silk Road nodes; rise in maritime trade dominance.

Cultural & Religious Reactions:

Universally, communities turned to religious rituals—processions, pilgrimages, offerings—while scapegoating minorities.

Artistic expressions of mortality (danse macabre, plaguescapes) appear in European, Persian, and Indian art.

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Renaissance & Scientific Inquiry: The societal disruptions in Europe and the Middle East catalyzed intellectual shifts toward empirical observation and humanism.

Public‑Health Foundations: Quarantine and record‑keeping (e.g. Cairo’s plague registers, Venice’s health magistracy) laid groundwork for later epidemic management worldwide.

Comparative Insights: The Black Death’s global footprint offers a crucial lens for understanding interconnected pandemic dynamics and responses in our contemporary world.

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Group 1: Origins

Group 2: Asia

Group 3: Africa

Group 4: Europe

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Content: Students will explain the origins, routes of transmission, and societal impacts of the Black Death across Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Skills: Develop critical evaluation of primary and secondary sources; synthesize multimodal evidence.

ICT & Collaboration: Use Padlet to collaborate, annotate, and present findings.

General Capabilities: Foster ICT capability, critical & creative thinking, ethical understanding, and intercultural awareness.

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“I agree” or “I wonder” comments.

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Interactive GIS Map of the Black Death’s Routes

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Interactive GIS Map of the Black Death’s Routes

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La miniature persane du XIIe au XVIIe siècle / Arménag bey Sakisian

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La miniature persane du XIIe au XVIIe siècle / Arménag bey Sakisian -- 1929 -- livre

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A collection of Persian miniatures from the 12th to 17th centuries

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La miniature persane du XIIe au XVIIe siècle / Arménag bey Sakisian

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La miniature persane du XIIe au XVIIe siècle / Arménag bey Sakisian -- 1929 -- livre

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Browse Middle Eastern and North African manuscripts

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By the end of EACH lesson, post ONE of the following artefacts to Padlet:

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By the end of EACH lesson, post ONE of the following artefacts to Padlet:

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1. Inquiry Question + Rationale

Post: Your question (e.g. “How did trans‑Saharan trade routes affect plague spread?”)

Add: 1–2 sentences explaining why this question matters historically.

2. Annotated Source Snapshot

Post: Embed an image or excerpt of a primary source.

Add: Sticky‑note comments or highlights calling out dates, places, terms, and a brief note on reliability.

3. Comparison Connection

Post: A short text (3–4 sentences) comparing two regions’ responses (e.g. China vs. Venice).

Include: At least one specific example from each.

4. Multimodal Mini‑Artefact

Post: A 1–2 min audio clip or a simple 1‑panel infographic.

Add: A 1‑sentence caption summarising the main point.

5. Learning Reflection

Post: 2–3 sentences:

“Today I learned…”

“I found challenging…”

“Next I want to know…”

Feedback & Peer Review:

I will leave comments on your posts within 24 hours.

Please “like” or add an “I wonder…” comment on at least two peers’ submissions.

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Embed the Completed Artefact of your Choice

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Embed the Completed Artefact of your Choice

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Task Choice: Students choose between creating:
- Infographic (using an online tool like Piktochart)
- Short Podcast (2‑- 3 minutes)