The Black Death Flashcards
What is the bubonic plage?
A highly infectious, usually fatal disease.
How did the Black Death spread from person to person?
They were spread by fleas, usually carried by rats.
What happened to an infected person?
- They developed buboes (swollen lymph glands) and their skin became covered in dark splotches.
- Most died in 1-3 days.
- High fever and vomiting
What method did medieval doctors use to prevent them from catching it?
They placed herbs in masks with beaks.
How much of Europe’s population was killed?
30-60%
Who died while trying to treat the infected?
Priests, doctors, and nuns.
What horrible things did people do during the Black Death?
They robbed corpses, houses of the dead, and abandoned sick family.
Who were the Flagellants and what idea did they spread?
Religious fanatics that travelled around, saying the plague was God’s punishment. They also sometimes whipped themselves in public.
What is a labour shortage and how did the plague start one?
An absence of workers to fill jobs. The plague killed so many people that it became harder to find workers, and they were able to charge higher wages.
Why did people blame the Jews for the Black Death?
Jews were segregated from Christians and often blamed for their troubles. Jews were accused of poisoning wells and spreading the plague.
Scapegoat
Someone blamed for something that wasn’t their fault.
Lymph glands
Parts of the immune system that help fight off infection and filter lymphatic fluid
