Black Death

Explain the key features of the Black Death social, economic and political effects and its impact upon Europe.
In the 1300’s, The Black Death spread across Europe killing many people and impacted Europe socially, economically and politically. The consequences of this plague had both short-term and long-term effects that impacted upon all of Europe. The main features of the Black Death at the time was the origins and spread of the disease, the symptoms and treatments, the cause of the Black Death and the social, economical and political effects.

Many people in the 1300’s wondered how the disease came to Europe and spread across. The disease spread rapidly going from one person to another and traveling from city to city from trading. Eventually, they realised that it came from elsewhere and banned any shipping from other countries. Source D shows the proposed origins of the plague and the subsequent route of it. This source also shows the hypothetical first and second waves of the plague. This source shows how rapidly the plague spread and how much of Europe was affected. In conclusion, Europe was in a lot of danger because the majority of this country was infected with the Black Death.

As the Plague spread, many doctors and healers discovered the symptoms and attempted to treat the plague. Healers and doctors could not do anything because they did not know why the plague was happening or how it was spreading, many of them did however, realise recurring symptoms of those infected. As shown in Source F, doctors realised that there were three types of plague: Bubonic, septicemic and pneumonic. Some symptoms of the bubonic plague mentioned in Source F is “Painful bumps, called buboes, developed in thengroin, armpit and neck. If the bumps broke open and the poisonous bacteria spilled out, a person could survive the disease. If the bumps did not break open, people died less than three days after the first bump appeared.” Many doctors also did not know the treatment needed for the infected person to survive. In Source G, it shows that “Doctors suggested that townspeople move to the countryside, where there were fewer sick people. They also recommended that healthy people avoid the sick by staying inside and not attending festivals or other public events.” Therefore, although many doctors and healers attempted to treat the infected many people still died wiping out Europe’s population.

People wondered what caused the Black Death and many of them had there own theories consisting of religious, astronomical and medical theories. Source H displays people praying for God’s forgiveness and for a quick end to the deadly disease because they believed that God had brought the plague as a punishment for their sins. Source B refers that anyone whose relative has died all the relations will follow him conveying that people believed that when one in a family dies the rest will soon follow. Source D shows that the people believed that the Plague had come from Asia and immediately stopped ships from coming in. Overall, many people had many theories but did not know the cause until later on.

The Black Death had many effects on Europe and impacted it socially, economically and politically. This disease affected Europeans social life, work and government and other political groups. Source E highlights the economic effect of the Plague. It proves that the worker did not have to be sick themselves and that if a relative died they could leave work to help their loved ones “To hear that poor Payne, my waiter, hath buried a child and is dying himself”. Source A shows the significant contrast of the atmosphere after and before the Black Death. Thomas Vincent says “People rare and very few that walk about…and a deep silence almost in every place, especially within the walls; no prancing horses, no rattling coaches… no London cries sounding in the ears. If any voice be heard” this shows how quiet and dull London has become because of the Plague. This source shows that due to the lack of people there were a small number of customers resulting in many shops and workers losing money. Source B presents the social effect not only on the healthy people but on the sick as well. The lack of communication is one of the many effects shown in Source B “There is such a fear of death that people do not dare to speak even with anyone whose relative has died”. The reader of this letter also sees that the way that the sick were treated is quite different. “The sick are now not served by kindred, except as dogs would be; food is put near the bed for them to eat and drink, and then the healthy fly and leave the house” this line shows that people feared death so much they treated the sick like dogs and was more concerned about their own health. The people lost faith in their political leaders because the citizens believed that they did not do anything. Overall, The Black Death affected Europe greatly socially, economically and politically.

In conclusion, this epidemic that spread across Europe affected it socially, economically and politically. But it also made people test their knowledge on the symptoms and treatments, the cause and the spread.

Source H: People praying for God’s forgiveness

Source H: People praying for God’s forgiveness

Source F:
Three types of Plague:
The Black Death was a combination ofthree types of plague: bubonic, septicemic and pneumonic. The bubonic plague was caused when a flea infected with the bacteria Yersinia pestis bit a human. The fleas bite sent the bacteria into a person’s lymphatic system. Painful bumos, called buboes, developed in the groin, armpits, or neck. If the bumps broke open and the poisonous bacteria spilled out, a person could survive the disease. If the bumps did not break open, people died less than three days after the first bump appeared.
Source F:
Three types of Plague:
The Black Death was a combination ofthree types of plague: bubonic, septicemic and pneumonic. The bubonic plague was caused when a flea infected with the bacteria Yersinia pestis bit a human. The fleas bite sent the bacteria into a person’s lymphatic system. Painful bumos, called buboes, developed in the groin, armpits, or neck. If the bumps broke open and the poisonous bacteria spilled out, a person could survive the disease. If the bumps did not break open, people died less than three days after the first bump appeared.

Elliot, Lynne, Medieval Medicine and The Plague,
New York, 2006
Elliot, Lynne, Medieval Medicine and The Plague, Source G:
Trying to Stay Healthy
Medieval doctors did not know what caused, the Plague, as we do now. They realized, though, that the Plague travelled by air and that it spread when healthy people came into close contact with those who were infected. To avoid the Plague, doctors suggested that townspeople move to the countryside, where there were few sicker people. They also recommended that healthy people avoid the sick by staying inside and not attending festivals or other public events.
Source G:
Trying to Stay Healthy
Medieval doctors did not know what caused, the Plague, as we do now. They realized, though, that the Plague travelled by air and that it spread when healthy people came into close contact with those who were infected. To avoid the Plague, doctors suggested that townspeople move to the countryside, where there were few sicker people. They also recommended that healthy people avoid the sick by staying inside and not attending festivals or other public events. New York, 2006

Elliot, Lynne, Medieval Medicine and The Plague, New York, 2006