Medieval England - Black Death 1348

Question 1

Living Conditions in Towns
Government

Answer 1

The centralised organisation of ancient Rome had vanished as regions fragmented, contributed to worse public health standards.
The Thames was so dirty that the ‘Great Conduit’ was built to bring drinking water into London. Wardens protected and repaired pipes to keep supply clean.

Question 2

Living conditions is Towns
Population growth

Answer 2

Population growth and urbanisation.
People lived close together in houses made of wood and overcrowding meant disease spread more quickly

Question 3

Living conditions in Towns
Understanding

Answer 3

Town were not clean because people did not know that dirt could cause disease (germs/bacteria).
Miasma was believed to be the cause of illness.

Question 4

Living conditions in Towns
Water and sewage

Answer 4

Rivers were used for sewage and drinking water. Lack of clean water.
Lots of towns didn’t have clean water or sewage systems. Often so Aqueducts that Romans had used.
Cesspits for liquid waste and sewage

Question 5

Spread of the Black death

Answer 5

Actual spread- fleas on rats, coughing /sneezing
Supernatural- position of starts or Gods wrath
Natural- miasma or humours
Spread quickly because people lived close to each other

Question 6

Remedies for Black death

Answer 6

Prayers to appease god
Herbs to stop miasma
Purging/vomiting/bloodletting to rebalance humours.
Move away or avoid infected ones

Question 7

Preventing black death

Answer 7

Winchester built cemeteries away from people’s homes (belief that it was caught from dead bodies )
Gloucester tried to stop anyone outside the town entering or quarantine zones. Did not succeed.
Ships were quarantined and had to wait 40days before unloading in Britain

Question 8

Social Impact of black death
Deaths

Answer 8

30-45% of British population died from black death
Whole towns were killed.
Church was harmed because lots of experienced priests had died. New clergymen demanded higher wages.

Question 9

Social Impact of the Black Death
Peasants

Answer 9

Killed lots of workers. Peasants asked for higher wages and moved around to earn them.
Cost of buying land fell bec population fell. Some peasants bought land.
The 1349 Ordinance of Labourers tried to stop peasants from loving around.

Question 10

Social Impact of the black death
Food

Answer 10

Lead to food shortages and higher prices bec of this. Made life harder for those who survived