Black Death Basics
What is the Black Death known for causing?
Massive death and population decline in Europe.
Which of these helped the Black Death spread quickly?
Trade routes, port cities, and ships carrying rats.
Did doctors know how to cure the Black Death?
No they didn’t know how to cure it for a long time.
How did the Black Death affect kings and guards?
Guards got sick, rulers lost power, and some died.
What were the swollen lumps on people’s bodies called?
Buboes.
In what century did the Black Death occur?
14th century.
How did more trade spread the Black Death?
It carried infected rats and fleas to Europe along major land and sea routes.
Name one common but useless treatment for the Black Death.
Bloodletting, herbs, or pressing chickens on buboes.
Who was blamed wrongly for causing the plague?
Jewish communities.
What is keeping sick people or ships away from others to stop a disease from spreading?
Quarantine.
What fraction of Europe’s population was wiped out by the disease?
About one-third.
From which continent did the Black Death come before reaching Europe?
Asia.
What actually helped stop the disease a little?
Quarantines and avoiding sick people.
How did many Muslims view the Black Death?
They saw it as a test from God, not a punishment.
What is a city where ships arrive called?
Port cities.
Where did the Black Death originally come from before reaching Europe?
Central Asia.
What was the significance of the Silk Road in the Black Death?
It connected Asia to Europe and allowed the plague to travel along trade routes.
What tiny organism caused the Black Death?
Bacteria called Yersinia pestis.
How did the Black Death affect religion in Europe?
People lost trust in the Church.
What is it called when cities get bigger and more crowded?
Urbanization.
What was one major long term effect of the Black Death on the Europe’s economy?
Labor shortages, economic changes, and higher wages for surviving workers.
Which big Mediterranean port cities did the Black Death enter Europe through?
Messina, Genoa, and Venice.
Why did people think the plague was a punishment from God?
Because they didn’t understand germs or disease.
Why did people try superstitions or prayers during the plague?
Because doctors had no real cure.
What is the word for the number of people who die from a disease?
Mortality rate.