The Black Death

Question 1

what was the bubonic plague?

Answer 1

• spread by the bites of fleas and rats carried on ships

- caused headaches, high temperature and pus-filled swellings on the skin

Question 2

what was the pneumonic plague?

Answer 2

• airborne, spread by coughs and sneezes

- attacked the lungs, making it painful to breathe and causing victims to cough up blood

Question 3

when did the disease first arrive in Britain?

Answer 3

1348

Question 4

What reasons did people believe caused the Black Death?

Answer 4

• A judgement from God. Believed it was caused by sin so prayed and fasted to cure it.
• Humour imbalances, bloodletting and purging to cure,
• Miasma, strong smelling herbs and lit fires.

Question 5

What was one of the main reasons for why the Black Death killed so many people?

Answer 5

They didn’t know what caused it, so all treatments were ineffective.

Question 6

What did some people in Winchester believe?

Answer 6

You could catch the plague from being close to the bodies of dead victims

Question 7

what did the townspeople refuse to let the bishop do?

Answer 7

extend the cemetery in the town centre, instead ordered it to be built outside of town.