Origins of the Plague
How did the Black Death first enter Europe?
Trade routes
What factor in towns spread the plague quickly?
Overcrowding
What were the painful lumps called?
Buboes
What treatment cut patients to release blood?
Blood letting.
Who did people believe sent the plague?
God
Where did the Black Death originate?
China
How many people often shared one small house?
Ten or more
Which rodents carried plague fleas?
Rats
What did people burn to "purify" the air?
Herbs
Which minority group was blamed?
Jews
Which siege spread plague into Europe in 1346?
Kaffa
What animals roamed freely in towns?
Pigs and chickens
Name one plague strain and one symptom.
Bubonic / buboes; Pneumonic / coughing blood; Septicaemic / blackened skin.
Who whipped themselves to atone for sins?
Flagellants
Flagellants reflected what explanations?
Religious
Which famous route carried the plague westward?
Silk Road
What materials covered dirty floors in homes?
Straw
What percentage of Europeans died?
25 - 40%
Why did medieval treatments fail?
No germ theory
Which institutions lost authority?
Catholic Church
By what year had the plague spread across most of Europe?
1350
What everyday activity did many people believe was unhealthy?
Washing
True or false: Plague was cause by volcanoes.
False
Which treatment was not used?
Antibiotics
Give one cultural effect of the plague.
Religious fear.