The Black Death was a catastrophic plague that lasted from 1347-1351. It wiped out approximately half of Europe's population (estimated figure: 25 million deaths) and had major affects on the country afterwards.
The Black Death originated in Mongolia and China. It was spread by the fleas on rats carrying bacteria. It arrived in Europe by sea (arrived on 'Death Ships'; almost all soldiers on board were dead). It also spread through the Silk Road, and spread as far as Moscow. The fleas on the rats would bite humans, passing on the infected blood. Unhygienic living conditions also helped to spread the plague. The Great Famine in 1315 had left the population weak, poor and hungry, so many people had low immune systems. It was very easy to catch the plague because of these reasons.
The plague would kill within 3-7 days, and it was pretty easy to tell if you had it. Some of the symptoms were:
Buboes were like big bubbles that would appear under the skin. They would sometimes discharge pus or blood. The buboes, neck, groin, armpits and other parts of the skin would turn black. There were many people that called themselves plague doctors, but they were often second-rate or unqualified. They used some normal and some absurd cures to heal people, such as:
There was a huge aftermath to this plague as well.
The Black Death was a truly terrible plague, wiping out over half of Europe;s population. It spread as far as Moscow, and on top of the deaths, the aftermath of the plague made things even worse.
The Black Death originated in Mongolia and China. It was spread by the fleas on rats carrying bacteria. It arrived in Europe by sea (arrived on 'Death Ships'; almost all soldiers on board were dead). It also spread through the Silk Road, and spread as far as Moscow. The fleas on the rats would bite humans, passing on the infected blood. Unhygienic living conditions also helped to spread the plague. The Great Famine in 1315 had left the population weak, poor and hungry, so many people had low immune systems. It was very easy to catch the plague because of these reasons.
The plague would kill within 3-7 days, and it was pretty easy to tell if you had it. Some of the symptoms were:
- Vomiting blood
- Fever
- Headaches
- Tiredness
- General weakness
- Buboes
Buboes were like big bubbles that would appear under the skin. They would sometimes discharge pus or blood. The buboes, neck, groin, armpits and other parts of the skin would turn black. There were many people that called themselves plague doctors, but they were often second-rate or unqualified. They used some normal and some absurd cures to heal people, such as:
- Using leeches to suck out infected blood
- Blood letting (deliberately cutting veins to release infected blood)
- Being washed with vinegar and water
- Lancing (cutting open) buboes
- Being ordered to live in the sewers
There was a huge aftermath to this plague as well.
- Social effects - People hated poverty, hated the feudal system and hierarchy.
- Psychological - People changed the way they lived and behaved. They lost sight of their morals. Some became wild, while others felt great despair. Many Jews were blamed because of the plague, and ended up being burned, killed or tortured.
- Economic - There was a shortage of workers. Parliament stopped wages rising, which caused the Peasant's Revolt in 1381. This was peasants rebelling and trying to overthrow the government because of their poor lifestyle, poor living conditions and poor wages.
The Black Death was a truly terrible plague, wiping out over half of Europe;s population. It spread as far as Moscow, and on top of the deaths, the aftermath of the plague made things even worse.