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Why was the Black Death so

Terrifying?

1066 –1500

For more detailed instructions, see the Getting Started presentation.

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This presentation covers:

1. What the Black Death was.

2. How medieval people thought it was spread.

3. How the disease was really spread.

4. What actions were taken to stop the spread and

whether they were successful.

Learning objectives

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Oh God, what terrible disease has arrived

at my village? We are all sick with

swellings and fever. The lucky ones are

those that die, for who can survive this

illness and be left to pick up the pieces of this mad world. Surely God is listening to

my prayers. I am writing this in hope you

heed my warning and remove yourself 

from all mankind. I am dying… you may benext… 

Press play to listen to this text.

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What was the Black Death?

The Black Death is also known as the plague. In the

fourteenth century it spread rapidly across Europe andcaused a massive reduction in population.

 A medieval description of the plague:

“…emergence of certain tumours in the groin or armpits,some of which grew as large as a common apple. Black

spots appeared on the arm or the thigh…” 

People who caught the disease had swellings on their 

bodies, sometimes as big as eggs. Then the black

spots would appear, which gave the disease its name. 

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The spread of the plague

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How did the plague spread?

There were two types of plague:

Bubonic plague was the more common and was carried inthe bloodstream of rats. Fleas bit the rats and become

infected. They then hopped onto humans, bit them and

passed on the disease.

Pneumonic plague was more deadly. It was caught by

breathing in the germs when an infected person coughed or 

sneezed.

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Symptoms of the plague

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How did the plague get to Britain?

The Black Death travelled along trading routes.

Merchants ships frequently had rats on board. The ratswhich got on the boats in China and India, where it is

thought the disease began, transferred the disease to the

sailors on board, who transferred it to people working at the

docks where they landed.

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“In the month of August 1348, after the evening sun began

to set, a very bright star appeared above Paris … The star seemed much nearer the earth than stars usually are … it

seemed to me … that the star stayed in one place … At

last darkness fell. Then to the amazement of all of us, the

star split up into many different rays. It shed these raystowards the east, over Paris. The star then completely

disappeared.”

Description of the plague reaching France by Jean de

Venette, friar.

What does this source tell you about how people thought

the plague began? Why did many people blame God?

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What did people believe caused the plague?

Sent by God to punish

us for our sins.

The movements of the

planets.

Being close to

infected people.

Bad smells.

Were any of these

ideas correct?

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How did people try to prevent the plague?

“[Toads] should be placed on

the plague boil. The toad willswell and draw out the poison

of the plague to its own

body…” 

Guy de Chauliac

It was thought that by

bleeding people, they couldget rid of the bad blood which

caused the plague.

Flagellants were

people who believedthat if they whipped

and hurt themselves,

God would take pity

on them.

Do you think that any of these

methods would work?

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Stages of the plague

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Plague doctor 

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The effects of the Black Death

 Although it is impossible to discover how many people died

from the Black Death, it is estimated that around 1 in 3 

people in England died as a result of the disease.

50%

Exeter 

49%

Norwich

48%

Ely

These coffins show

the percentage of 

priests dying from

the Black Death in

Exeter, Norwich and

Ely.

Why do you think that a higher percentage of 

priests died than ordinary people?

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Was the Black Death a complete disaster?

Some good things did come out of the Black Death.

In many areas, villages were

deserted, so there was more goodland for people to grow crops on.

In many areas, village

populations were greatly

reduced, so villagers could askfor higher wages, and serfs could

demand their freedom.

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“At Woodeaton there were only two farmers left and they

would have gone away if the abbot had not made a newagreement with them to reduce their work service…”from the records of Eynsham Abbey, c.1385.

“As soon as masters accuse their workers of bad work …

they leave quickly and find jobs in new places at higher 

wages. Masters dare not upset their workers…” from

Introduction to a Law, 1376.

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Effects of the Black Death

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The Black Death: multiple-choice questions