The Black Death in Britain

• The Black Death in Britain

  The Black Death first struck in the 14th century. People tried to limit its spread, but couldn't stop the disease
• The Black Death


  A devastating Epidemic
• The Black Death


  1. Bubonic plague

  2. Pneumonic plague
• Bubonic plague


  • Spread by the bites of fleas from rats carried on ships
  • Caused headaches and a high temperature, followed by pus-filled swellings on the skin
• Pneumonic plague


  • Airborne - spread by coughs and sneezes
  • Attacked the lungs, making it painful to breathe causing victims to cough up blood
• The disease first arrived in Britain

  1348
• At least a third of the British population died as a result of the Black Death in 1348-50
• There were further outbreaks of the Black Death throughout the Middle Ages
• People Didn't Know what Caused the Black Death

  No-one at the time knew what had caused the plague

  . Some people believed that the Black Death was a judgement from God. They thought the cause of the disease was sin, so they tried to prevent the spread of the disease through prayer and fasting

  . Some blamed humour imbalances, so tried to get rid of the Black Death through bloodletting and purging. Those who thought that the disease was caused by miasma carried strong smelling herbs or lit fires to purify the air

  . Some people also carried charms or used 'magic' potions containing arsenic
• Comment and Analysis


  One of the main reasons why the Black Death killed so many was because people didn't know what caused the disease. Their ideas about the cause of disease were wrong, so their attempts at prevention and treatment were mostly ineffective
• Local Governments tried to Prevent the spread of the disease

  1. Some people in Winchester thought you could catch the plague from being close to the bodies of dead victims

  2. When the town's cemetery became too full, the townspeople refused to let the bishop extend the cemetery in the town centre

  3. Instead, they insisted that new cemeteries be built outside of the town, away from the houses
• The town of Gloucester tried to shut itself off from the outside world


  1. After hearing the Black Death had reached Bristol

  2. Suggests they thought the plague was spread by human contact

  3. Their attempt at prevention was unsuccessful - many people in the town died of the Black Death
• The disease reached London


  November 1348
• King Edward III closed Parliament

  January 1349
• The Black Death


  Caused social change
• After the Black Death

  • There were far fewer workers around
  • Workers could demand higher wages from their employers
  • Workers could move around to find better work
  • The cost of land decreased, allowing some peasants to buy land for the first time
• These changes


  Threatened the power of the elites
• The government's response


  Created laws, such as the 1349 Ordinance of Labourers, to try and stop peasants moving around the country
• The Black Death


  Helped cause the Peasants' Revolt in 1381
• The Black Death


  Eventually led to the collapse of the feudal system in Britain