Black Death

What was the Black Death?

The Black Death was an epidemic that hit England. It was the bubonic plague, a serious infection of the lymphatic system which caused buboes (pus-filled swellings) in the groin and armpits. People died within five days of becoming ill.

When did the Black Death arrive in England?

The Black Death arrived in England in 1348.

What did people think caused the Black Death?

People during the medieval period, people believed in 3 main causes of the Black Death:

• ❖ People thought it was caused by God, punishing people on earth for their sins.
• ❖ Some believed it was due to miasma (bad air).
• ❖ Astrologists blamed an unusual alignment of the planets in 1345, three years earlier.

How did the Black Death spread?

Bubonic plague was caused by bacteria in fleas' stomachs. Infected fleas were carried on the backs of rats to new places and then passed it to humans. The disease spread quickly because people lived close to each other at that time.

What did people do to stop themselves catching the Black Death?

People used 4 key methods to treat the Black Death.

• ❖ They prayed for God's forgiveness. Many carried out flagellation (whipping) to show they were sorry. Many believed the Black Death was God's will, so there was no way to cure it.
• ❖ Carrying strong-smelling herbs to ward off miasma was recommended by physicians. It was also believed that lighting fires and boiling vinegar would also have the same effect.
• ❖ Apothecaries created herbal remedies to try and treat the disease. Many were mixtures that had to be applied directly to the buboes.
• ❖ Some recommended lancing the buboes to release the pus.

What measures were taken to stop the spread of the Black Death?

People tried to prevent the spread of the Black Death and stop themselves catching it in 4 main ways.

• ❖ Some towns built cemeteries away from people's homes, because they believed the dead bodies caused miasma that was infecting people.
• ❖ Towns tried to ban travellers from entering. Local governments introduced quarantine laws stating newcomers must spend 40 days apart from any other people. They also considered banning large gatherings such as church services.
• ❖ Street cleaning was stopped by some local governments because they believed the smell from rubbish and waste would drive away the miasma.
• ❖ People went on pilgrimages, prayed, fasted, and whipped themselves to show God they were sorry for their sins. They hoped God would forgive them and not strike them down with the Black Death.

What was the impact of the Black Death?

The Black Death had a lasting impact on England for the following 5 main reasons:

• ❖ It is estimated the Black Death killed around a third of the population of England.
• ❖ The shortage of labourers meant that peasants could travel to where conditions and pay were better.
• ❖ The balance of power shifted towards the poorest in society, as feudalism came to an end.
• ❖ People began to challenge the social hierarchy. As the rich and wealthy were not immune from the disease, they were therefore not seen as better than others.
• ❖ The Church was also not immune from the disease, as many clergymen died.

When did the Black Death end?

The worst of the Black Death was over by 1350. It returned many times over the following decades, but infected fewer people each time.