the black death

• Black Death


  Deadly pandemic that swept through 14th century Europe
• Yersinia pestis


  Bacteria that caused the Black Death, transmitted by bites from fleas carried by the black rat
• Plague types


  • Bubonic
  • Pneumonic
  • Septicemic
• Bubonic plague


  • Causes bubos or swellings
• Pneumonic plague


  • Attacks the lungs
• The Black Death was a pandemic that traveled along trade routes from Asia into the Middle East, Africa and then Europe
• The Black Death arrived in England in 1348
• Estimates suggest 50% or more of Europe's population may have died from the Black Death
• Medieval people had no effective cures and it would have felt utterly apocalyptic
• Progression of the disease in victims

  Day 1: Painful swellings (bubos) appear

  Day 2: Victim becomes very ill and sick

  Day 3: Bleeding under the skin causing dark blotches

  Day 4: Bugs burst, foul smelling black liquid oozes out, usually resulting in death
• Commonly agreed symptoms


  • Fever/high temperature
  • Aching joints
  • Bubos (pus-filled black swellings)
  • Vomiting blood
  • Black fingers and toes
  • Coma and loss of consciousness
  • Death
• Supernatural causes believed to cause the Black Death


  • God's punishment for sins
  • Effects of the planets
  • Jewish people poisoning wells
  • Pointed shoes reflecting lack of morals
• Natural causes believed to cause the Black Death


  • Blocked digestive system
  • Miasma (bad smells and poisoned air)
  • Humors being out of balance
  • Contact with the infected
• Bishop of London, 1345: 'Terrible is God towards the sons of men"
• Medieval flagellants


  • They went from town to town whipping themselves as an act of penance and to prevent the Black Death
• Supernatural methods of prevention

  • Public whipping in processions
  • Burning human-sized candles in churches
  • Going on pilgrimage
  • Praying
• Natural methods of prevention


  • Listening to cheerful music
  • Regimen sanitartis (balancing humors through diet)
  • Avoiding bathing
  • Avoiding the infected
  • Clearing filth from streets
  • Quarantine laws
  • Banning crowds
• Supernatural treatments


  • Praying
  • Confessing sins
• Natural treatments


  • Bloodletting and purging
  • Using strong smelling herbs and oils
  • Opherica (medicine) from apothecaries
  • Lighting fires and boiling vinegar
  • Cutting open bubos
• The distinctive 'plague doctor' outfit was not used during the Black Death, but in later plague outbreaks
• The Black Death was a terrifying pandemic of bubonic plague in the 14th century that arrived in England in 1348
• Around 50% of Europe's population died from the Black Death
• Plagues would return in subsequent centuries, but should not be confused with the Black Death