Dear Reader,

I made this project to inform you about the bubonic plague, otherwise known as the

Black Death. Many horrific stories are connected to this pandemic, some of which are too

graphic to talk about here. Although, once you’ve read this essay, you will know all about the

plague if you don’t already. It was a very interesting project to research, and I enjoyed it very

much. I had always wondered what this whole thing was about. Although, a couple of specific

things caught my attention in wanting to research this project.

Ever since I was little, I had heard about something called the Black Death, and I had

absolutely no clue what it even was. I didn’t ever bother to research it, and eventually in 7th

grade history, we talked about it. Then, in 6/7th period L/A, we had to do a multigenre project

on an important event throughout history, that greatly impacted the world, and after I read about

it in history, I thought it would be awesome to research something that I had been wondering

about for the longest time. So, I decided to research about this topic. It was very interesting to

learn about once and for all, and I was very entertained by what it actually was. Being a big fan

of renaissance festival, I was very interested in this topic.

So, I hope that you enjoy learning about this project just as much as I did. If you are into

medieval catastrophes such as witch trials and sacred unknown killers, you will enjoy learning

about this. It interested me very much, so there is a good chance this will interest most of the

people that read these genres and research report.

The Deadliest Disease

 The Black Plague, otherwise known as the Black Death, was a deadly thing for Europe

in the early 1300s, as you can tell by the title. I decided I’d like to research this topic when I was

stuck on picking a topic for my multi-genre essay. I had no clue what I wanted to do it on, and

then it hit me. I never knew what the Black Death was, and at the time, I honestly just thought it

was a mass murder. Not only that, but I also heard about it through many video games that I

played over the course of my life. The plague doctors were something that influenced me to take

on this topic, for they were my biggest curiosity. So, I went on to research the Black Death, and

later, found that the correct name was called the Bubonic Plague. I think that this disaster

deserves to be recognized, for the sheer amount of death and suffering was caused by it. In this

essay, I will tell about the disease that killed millions, clearing almost all of Europe’s population,

destroying the medieval world of the middle east.

The Plague

The Bubonic Plague, otherwise known as the Black Plague, or the Black Death, first

was believed to have originated in early Asia. Some legends say that the Mongols brought the

plague to Europe, although, those legends are indeed false. In fact, what brought the plague to

Europe is completely different than Mongols; fleas. According to Bruegel, millions of fleas

journeying on rats in the streets of Europe had come from Asia, holding the igniter to the bonfire

that was set ablaze in 1347 (National Geographic). The fleas on the rats are generally known as

“Rat Fleas”, which basically means that they favor rat blood away from any other type of blood.

Although, the fleas may jump from rat to human, and drink their blood for more energy along the

way. This was how the plague was spread.

If you were to be infected by the plague, Yersinia Pestis, there were three possible

types of the Black Plague that could infect you; one of those being the Bubonic plague. As said
by National Geographic, “Bubonic plague, the disease's most common form, refers to telltale

buboes—painfully swollen lymph nodes—that appear around the groin, armpit, or neck.”

Another form of the plague, Septicemic Plague, was not as common as the Bubonic Plague. As

said by National Geographic, “Septicemic plague, which spreads in the bloodstream, comes

either via fleas or from contact with plague-infected body matter.” The last form of the disease,

Pneumonic Plague, was the rarest, and deadliest form. As said by National Geographic,

“Pneumonic plague, the most infectious type, is an advanced stage of bubonic plague when the

disease starts being passed directly, person to person, through airborne droplets coughed from

the lungs.” Every single one of the types of plague that could infect you were deadly. Only

those infected with the Bubonic version had a decent chance of survival. If you were infected

with Septicemic or Pneumonic versions, you might as well have considered yourself dead.

All of the rats coming from Asia didn’t have anywhere to go. They ventured into

towns and into alleyways, trying to find shelter. Although, the rats weren’t the start of the

epidemic. According to National Geographic, it was instead the fleas on the rats. The rats,

carrying Yersinia Pestis, had the virus already inside of their bloodstream. The fleas, not having

the virus, drank the blood of the rats (Nat Geo). Although, biting the human did not infect them.

The blood from the rats that the fleas had inside of them was what caused the virus to spread.

Once the fleas put a hole in the human, the blood from the rat got into the body. Inside of the

blood, the virus was taking over, infecting the person. Once the flea was done with its host, it

jumped to another human being and did the same as it did to the other human. As a result, this is

how the plague was started. The fleas deposit the infected blood from the rats to the humans and

infect more than one person in the process.

The Epidemic Strikes

 No one knew that the disease had taken over. Many Europeans mistook the symptoms

as the common cold or a bad cough. They thought that the blood coming up from the coughing

was just an ordinary symptom of a bad cough. Although, the disease was much more than the

ordinary cold. Before they knew it, people were dying, and they, themselves, were starting to

show symptoms too. By this point, everyone knew it was obviously more than just a cold. The

disease spread throughout Europe in a matter of 2 years. If you were to be infected in this time,

you would know you were going to die. The disease was so bad that even mothers left their

infected children to die.

Once the disease started to spread, there was no use trying to stop. The plague

originated in the Eastern part of Europe, near the border of Asia and Europe. At the time,

Europeans weren’t aware of the disease. They thought that this was a punishment from god

punishing them for their wrong-doings. Once a town was infected, everyone moved away if they

could afford it, but once the plague got to you, it stayed with you. The plague thrived through

the towns of Europe, infecting every person living in every town. Pretty soon, ⅔ of Europe

would be dead, or otherwise, to be exact, 25,000,000 people.

Although, there was one key factor to stop the disease; Plague Doctors. The plague

doctors were doctors in Europe that came to help stop the plague. Many people know them from

the Crow-like masks that they wore over their faces during treating victims of the plague. Inside

of the masks, they filled the tips with spices and flowers to hide the stench of rotting bodies from

their noses. The stench would’ve been unbearable. Millions of rotting bodies around you.

Being a doctor was horrible enough by itself, knowing that you could be infected by the plague

at any moment, but worst of all, knowing that the patients you were treating were eventually

going to die. Plague Doctors would eventually get to the point of just leaving their patients to
die if it got bad enough. Not many survivors lived through the plague, for the doctor's methods

of curing it were draining the body of blood, and rubbing mud and spit on the buboes that grew

from the lymph nodes on the body.

After The Plague

After the plague, many towns were left unoccupied. The towns that were infected

were either cleared out by the disease, or uninhabited, for the people that were never infected

were running away to keep themselves alive. The survivors of the towns were very lucky and

were some of only a few people to survive the plague. Not many survivors were known today,

although the ones who did end up alive were supposed to be blessed by god himself.

In Europe as a whole, not many people remained. The continent started to cripple

directly after the plague. Many people were wondering if it was even possible to thrive at which

the rate that they did before. Europe’s unscathed areas were now overpopulated from the

survivors of the plague. Most of the survivors in the impacted towns stayed hidden and away

from the rest of people because they weren’t sure that the plague was completely over. No one

knew if it was safe to come out and explore the aftermath of the plague.

After everything had settled down, life in Europe began to actually improve. Medication

thrived in Europe after the plague, for the Europeans did not want another plague to wipe out ⅔

of their population once again. From this, the number of people living past the age of 70 went

from 10% to 20% of all Europeans (Pappas). Europe’s population started living longer, and

economy grew. This new start would lead to the iron-age, into the 15th century of Europe.

Conclusion

So, in conclusion, the Bubonic Plague was one of the most devastating plagues to ever

take place. Killing ⅔ of Europe’s population, 25,000,000 people, was the plague known as the

Bubonic Plague. Many forms of the disease were known, and once you were infected, nothing
could stop you from dying. You would’ve been thinking that it was a punishment from god,

punishing you for something you had disobeyed him for. So many factors made this a very

deadly plague. Although some may argue that it wasn’t very deadly, back then they didn’t have

very many medications. So, to end this all off, that’s why this disease was the deadliest disease

in almost all of medieval history.

The Doctor

The beds were full at this time of day, the smell of rotting bodies overpowering everything else

in the room. Blood was starting to puddle at the sides of the beds, all over the floor. Although, the

one thing that I could not stand; the people suffering. Screams of agony every five minutes from
person to person to person down the aisles. Even the new roses that I bundled into my mask this

morning cannot overpower the stench of dead bodies.. There are almost too many to count. I know

that almost none of these people are going to make it through this. The most I can do is make their

death fast and painless..

“Bachiler! You’ve got a new load.”

I groan. Why can’t a man have a nap once in his life? I mean, saving lives is something

that you should not slack on, but everyday? It turns into a hassle! Even knowing that every single

one of my patients is going to die., and me.. giving them hope that they are going to live.. That’s a

joke. No one’s ever survived the plague. It’s been almost a year now, and still, these imbeciles still

have hope. All the while, I could be infected, but just not know it yet..

“BACHILER! WE NEED YOU TO COME HERE NOW!” Says one of the nurses down the

hall.

“Okay, I’m coming..” I say. I throw on my overcoat, put my mask on, and throw my hat

upon my head, and start down the hallway.

 When I arrive, I realize what they meant by “New load”. Every row in the hospital is full of

newly infected people, the buboes just started to develop into tiny goosebump looking hills. Although,

they have been able to experience the pain, for all of them are moaning in agony.

I walk to the first patient in the first row. The only procedure that we know of is draining

blood. I grab the bottle on the table, and unscrew the cap. I reach in, pull out five leeches, and place

them on the patient's back. The blood starts coming immediately. A stream neatly connects between

the leeches and drizzles onto the floor. The man gasps as the leeches suck the blood out of him, and

he eventually relaxes into even breaths.

I move from patient to patient, doing the same procedure. It’s easy work for a man like me,

for I have been doing these types of things all of my life. Although, not everything about my job is

easy. As I pace back to the entrance of the hospital, the biggest thought of the situation encompasses

my mind; everyone I’m helping to survive is eventually going to die. I go back my room, broken

hearted, at yet another hundred patients, dead. Although, that’s when I start to cough, violently. It’s

now, that I realize, I’m going with them.

Timeline of Destruction
Recipe for Disaster
The Unknown Pandemic
 Bennett awoke with a start. He had been dreaming about the mongols attacking his

village. He groaned, uncovered, and pushed off of the bed to stand. He walked over to his

wardrobe, and threw on an outfit.

“Today’s the day..” he said solemnly. He sighed, and walked out the door non-

hesitantly.

The square was booming today. Traders from all around the continent have come to

germany on this day, many looking for new opportunities to see something new. Markets were

running busily today, everyone from around germany trying to make a few coins. Bennett just

happened to be one of the merchants. In a lonesome corner of the square, Bennett had set up his

shop. Bags of different kinds of leaves and spices filled the air with their aromas. Until, one

very peculiar face stumbled his way towards Bennett’s shop.

The man, coughing violently, held onto the table and vomited onto the ground in front of

Bennett’s station.

“Um.. zir, zat it not for you to fomit ubon..” being from Germany, the man had a strong

German accent. The man that had vomited on the ground stood up, and stared at Bennet.

Bennett stared at the man. He turned his head side to side.

“Is zomething wrong?” Bennett waited for a response, until the man started to

unexpectedly cough again. Except, for this time the man coughed straight at Bennett. Bennett

backed away from the man, and tripped over the curb.

“Hey, take it eazy.” the man got on all fours and vomiting again. Bennett looked past

the man. Several others were starting to cough too. This must be some kind of cold, a minor

sickness. Bennett looked at the man, who was now laying in his vomit. Bennett decided it was

time to go back home for the day..

 Bennett arrived back at his house late at night. On the way home, he had worked up a

small cough, and along his neck, small bumps were starting to form. The bumps; they hurt.

Bennett walked into his house and slumped into his bed.

The next the morning when Bennett awoke, the bumps had increased to the size of baby

potatoes. They were swollen, and looked like lumps of mud. Bennett slowly reached towards

one, rolled onto his back, and popped one. Pus oozed all over the bedspread, and Bennett

screamed in pain. What could’ve caused this? Bennett tried to move, but he couldn’t. His

muscles were tense, and he felt very tired. His head was heavy.. Maybe what he needed was a

nice rest. Afterall, all of this pain was stressful. Bennett closed his eyes, rested his head on his

pillow, and fell into an eternal sleep..

Dictionary of the Middle Age

Endnotes
Title Page - The title page, a picture of a plague doctor with skulls faded into the background, is
to represent all of the dead Europeans from the disaster. The plague doctors played big roles in
the plague, as I will explain in my flash fiction notes, and were a huge influence at the time in
Europe. The title of the entire project is called “The Unknown Pandemic” because at the time,
they didn’t know what it was. They thought that it was a bad cough, and had no clue that it was
a deadly disease until people started dying. After people started actually dying, they thought that
it was a punishment from god because he was angry with them.

Short Story - The short story was made to show the rough factors of being diagnosed with the
plague itself. In the story, a middle aged german man, Bennett, goes to the market square to
open his shop for the day. A man comes over coughing and vomiting, and coughs on Bennett.
Bennett goes back home, and describes how painful the disease is. Days later, he dies. This was
to show how quickly the plague itself could kill someone, and where it affected the hardest.
Germany was the most infected spot in the black death. I also made Bennett talk in a german
accent to indicate that in the middle ages, the also spoke in a german tone there too.

Timeline - The timeline was made to show where the pandemic struck and when. It wasn’t just
in one place, but in all of Europe. ⅔ of the population was killed, and very quickly. The
pandemic struck multiple locations and very quickly, starting in some places, and moving in
general directions towards others, for people were trying to escape the plague.

Recipe - The recipe was made to show how many people died and how the plague got to Europe.
Many factors controlled how and where the plague went. Not many ingredients are needed for a
deadly disease to wipe out ⅔ of Europe’s population, for that is exactly what happened.

Dictionary - The dictionary was made to show the three different types of plague that could
affect someone during the time (which can still infect anyone with the same types of the plague
today). Some forms of the plague were rarer than others, and the rarer ones were usually
deadlier. The three types of plague randomly infected millions across the population of middle
age Europe, killing 25,000,000 people.
Flash Fiction - I created the flash fiction to introduce what it was like to be a doctor of the
plague at the time. It was a very risky job, because most doctors risked becoming infected with
the plague, and dying even in some cases. They wore masks filled with herbs to protect
themselves from the stench, just in case the stench transferred the plague. They had no clue how
it was spread at the time. Plague Doctors have since been known as not heroes of the middle
age, but rather a scary creature that haunts regions in the night. The middle age European
doctors are referred to as Plague Doctors.

Works Cited / Consulted

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"HEALTH | De-coding the Black Death." BBC News. BBC, 03 Oct. 2001. Web. 13 Apr.

2017.

Kennedy, Maev. "Black Death Study Lets Rats off the Hook." The Guardian. Guardian

News and Media, 17 Aug. 2011. Web. 13 Apr. 2017.

Mackowiak, Philip A., and Paul S. Sehdev. "The Origin of Quarantine." Clinical

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SciDev.Net. "Drug-resistant Plague a 'major Threat', Say Scientists." SciDev.Net. Web. 13

Apr. 2017.

Shanghai, Malcolm Moore in. "Black Death May Have Originated in China." The

Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 01 Nov. 2010. Web. 13 Apr. 2017.

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