Unit 2 The Middle Ages

The Black Death

The facts
In 1348 a ship docked at the port of
Melcombe in Dorset. On this ship were flea-
infested black rats that carried a disease,
which was to wipe out almost 33% of the
population. The disease would plague
Britain's shores for 300 years, triggering
repeated epidemics. The biggest epidemic
was during 1348-50 and was known as the
Black Death.

There were two main sorts of plague in this

period: pneumonic and bubonic.
Pneumonic plague was spread by sneezing
and bubonic plague by flea bites. Both
could be fatal. However, pneumonic fever
was more contagious because it was air-
based. The symptoms of bubonic plague
would start with a high temperature, Physicians Costume 1348
headaches and vomiting, followed by lumps
appearing in the groin and armpits, eventually the victim would be covered all
over with black bruises, death would shortly follow. The fleas that delivered
the deadly bite would leap from dead rats to humans and could survive in any
warm place.

Such a devastating disease was bound to bring huge changes to medieval

society. Some writers complained the disease had brought out the worst in
people. In other cases, because so many had died, labour was in short
supply.

This is a letter from the Prior of the Abbey of Christchurch, Canterbury to the
Bishop of London, 28 September 1348. 'God often allows plagues, miserable
famines, wars and other forms of suffering to arise, and uses them to terrify
and torment men and so drive out their sins. And thus the realm of England,
because of the growing pride and corruption of its subjects and their
numberless sins is to be punished by pestilence'.

Memory time...

• There were two kinds of plague in the Middle

Ages: pneumonic and bubonic
• The bubonic plague was responsible for the
huge loss of human life in the Black Death:
at least 10,000,000 people in two years
• The bubonic plague was spread by a flea
bite.
Remember – examiners like to ask you about the reaction of people to the Black Death. This
picture from the 1400’s shows how people thought the Black Death affected their society. What
are the messages in the picture. [Hint – zoom in for a closer inspection]