What were the causes of the Black
Death?
What was the Black Death?
Oh God, what terrible disease has arrived at
my village? We are all sick with swellings and
fever. The lucky ones are those that die, for
who can survive this illness and be left to pick
up the pieces of this mad world. Surely God is
listening to my prayers. I am writing this in
hope you heed my warning and remove
yourself from all mankind. I am dying… and
you may be next…
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Symptoms of the Black Death
The spread of the plague
How did the plague spread?
There were two types of plague:
1.) Bubonic plague was the more common and was carried in
the bloodstream of rats. Fleas bit the rats and became
infected. They then hopped onto other rats or humans, bit
them and passed on the disease.
2.) Pneumonic plague was less common, but more deadly.
It was caught by breathing in the germs released when an
infected person coughed or sneezed.
What did people believe caused the plague?
“In the month of August 1348, after the
evening sun began to set, a very bright
star appeared above Paris … The star
seemed much nearer the earth than stars usually are … it
seemed to me … that the star stayed in one place … At last
darkness fell. Then to the amazement of all of us, the star split
up into many different rays. It shed these rays towards the
east, over Paris. The star then completely disappeared.”
Description of the plague reaching France by
Jean de Venette, friar.
What does this source tell you about how
people thought the plague began?
Why did many people blame God?
What did people believe caused the plague?
Sent by God to punish
them for their sins.
Being close to
infected people.
The movements of the
planets.
Bad smells.
What were the causes?
• Look at sources F to J on page 120:
1. Make a list of all the different causes of plague
you can find in these sources.
2. Why do you think there were so many different
explanations of the causes of the Black Death?
3. Which explanation came closest to the real cause
of the Black Death?
Plague Plenary!