HIST 2055 Lecture : Lecture 2
Document Summary
Europe in 1491: most people living there are peasants who couldn"t own land. Europe is a hierarchy, kings, queens, and other nobles are in charge. Peasants rent land from landlords (kings, queens, etc). Not only does he pay rent to landlord, but also works on the landlords land and may have to fight in the military: catholic church. Peasants believed in a mixture of catholicism and superstitions: peasants life dominated by seasons since they are farming people. Huns bring plague to europe when they travel west to escape the plague in china. Lay siege in caffa; launch infected bodies into the city walls: italian merchants flea to venice, but they are sent away. However, some people sneak in regardless and infect the city of venice: ship continues until everyone is off the ship, 30% of population died, effects of the plague, only killed people didn"t destroy property.
