Origins
In which region of the world did the Black Death originate?
Asia (China)
What were the painful swollen lumps that appeared on plague victims called?
Buboes
What were two ways the removal of blood was performed?
Using leeches or cutting through with a knife
What was often found in the streets of medieval towns/manors?
Rubbish and human waste
What religion did most people in medieval Europe follow?
Christiantity
In what century did the Black Death spread across Europe?
The 14th century (1300's)
What insect was commonly responsible for spreading the bubonic plague through it's bites?
Fleas (Ticks)
What was the medieval treatment that involved removing blood from a patient?
Bloodletting
Why were medieval towns often crowded?
Many people prefer to live and work close together, for protection
What is a 'scapegoat'?
A person or group unfairly blamed for the mistakes or problems of others
What was the name of the bacteria that caused the Black Death?
Yersinia Pestis
Name the three different variants of the Black Death
Bubonic, Pneumonic, and Septicaemic
Why did some medieval people carry pleasant-smelling herbs/flowers?
They believed the pleasant smells would protect them from the bad air.
What type of fines were put in place to stop the spread of the Black Death?
People caught dumping waste in the streets
Which religious group were unfairly blamed (and punished) for spreading the Black Death?
Jewish people
Evidence of the disease spreading was discovered by researchers that had found teeth in this modern-day country
Kyrgyzstan
How did the Pneumonic plague spread differently from the bubonic plague?
Through respiratory droplets in the air between different people
What did Medieval people call the theory causing the disease, that involved bad or polluted air?
Miasma
Provide two reasons why medieval towns were ideal places for the Black Death to spread.
Overcrowding, poor sanitation, horrendous waste, rats & fleas (dirty places), all close together
Why did some medieval Christians believe the Black Death was a punishment from God?
They believed the plague was punishment for people's sins and that seeking forgiveness could stop it.
How did trade routes contribute to the spread of the Black Death across Europe?
By connecting different countries with each other
In source 3, Giovanni Boccaccio signals that "death was inevitable" after this symptom was present.
Nosebleeds
Why were many medieval medical treatments ineffective against the Black Death?
Because people did not understand bacteria or germs and how diseases were spread (no scientific knowledge)
Explain how improving sanitation in medieval towns could have helped reduce the spread of the Black Death?
Removing rubbish and waste could reduce conditions that attracted rats and fleas.
Who were the flagellants, and what did they do?
Groups of travelling Christians who whipped themselves in an attempt to seek forgiveness from God (and stop the plague)