Dealing with the Black Death Flashcards
How many people died during the Black Death and what percentages
75-200 million
50% of China and 30-40% of Europe’s total population
What were the symptoms of the Bubonic plague and what was it followed by
Sudden coldness, tiredness, swelling (Buboes), blisters
Followed by high fever, unconsciousness then death
What was the Pneumonic plage
Attacked the lungs, victims coughed up blood - death within 40 hours
What two things did medieval people in Europe rely on
Medieval Europe was reliant on existing medical and superstitious knowledege
What did Astrologists blame and what did a French Surgeon say
Blamed in the alignment of the planets
Guy de Chauliac said the “close position of Saturn, Jupiter and Mars” in 1345 was to blame for the Black Death
What did Clergy men say
Plague was God’s punishment for society becoming corrupt - wearing short and tight clothing
As a result of what Clergy men said what did people become
Flagellants - travel town to town whipping themselves publicly seeking for God’s forgiveness
How were religious minorities part of the Black Death
Jews were blamed for poisoning wells attempting to wipe out Christianity
100s of Jews across Europe were killed
Other than religion or superstition what did some people turn to
Ancient Explanations said that the dead was filled “with evil humours” led to purging of the blood - leeching/bleeding - four humours
What were the various ways to find cures
British sufferers were encouraged to strap a live chicken to their bubeuous, carry sweet smelling flowers and drink rotten tree sap
Few surgeons recommended trepanning - drilling a hole in the skull to ‘let the devil out’
Some made paste made of flower root, tree resin and human excrement into their sores
How were Public Health measures effective
Royal Court left London every summer when the plague was at its peak
Many European cities established strict rules about travel - Port cities like Venice setup quarantine to stop ships that were possibly carrying the plague to not enter
What did Mike Ibeji say
Black Death was a “national trauma that utterly transformed Britain”
