The Black Death

Question 0

How many people in Europe did the Black Death kill?

Answer 0

50 million people (60% of Europe’s population)

Question 1

When did the Black Death start and end roughly?

Answer 1

1346 - 1353

Question 2

How was it transmitted?

Answer 2

Through fleas carried by rodents.

Question 3

Name some symptoms.

Answer 3

• Weakness
• Chills
• Headache
• Fever
• Swollen lymph nodes glands
• Black spots on the skin

Question 4

Where did it originate, and how did it get to Europe?

Answer 4

It originated in the Gobi desert in 1320, and spread west into Italy on a trade ship with infected people on it.

Question 5

What year was the worst year of the plague?

Answer 5

1348 in Europe.

Question 6

Where did it follow?

Where did it concentrate?

Answer 6

Trade routes.

Cities.

Question 7

How did the Black Death change Christian beliefs?

Answer 7

1. Many people thought the world was ending and wanted to know why God seemed to be so angry with them.
2. The Christian church held great power and was representing God on Earth. When the church couldn’t tell people why millions of people were dying, people lost faith. This caused them to turn to science to look for more factual answers.
3. Many priests died during the plague, weakening the Churches influence.
4. In addition to 3, many questionable people were let in as priests. A lot were corrupt, also making people lose faith.
5. The reaction of the church during this time also influenced Martin Luther King’s Protestant Reformation.