The Black Death and the Middle Ages
Name:
Answer each question as completely as possible. It is not necessary to write in complete sentences
but be detailed in your response. All answers go on loose-leaf in your binder as assignment
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Answer the questions in order; you may need to hop around between the sites in order to find the
information. If the sites don’t work- do a google search on your own.
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/plague.htm
http://www.healthline.com/health/plague#Overview1
http://www.cdc.gov/plague/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/rxforsurvival/series/diseases/plague.html for fatality rates
https://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/black_plague.html for how often the plague returned
1. When did the Black Death first arrive in Europe? Where did it arrive from? How did it get to
Europe?
2. What is the scientific name for the Black Death? What is the name of the bacillus/bacterium that
causes it? Why did the Europeans name this disease the Black Death?
3. There are three forms of this disease. For each form identify the following:
a. name
d. symptoms
b. incubation period
e. fatality rate
c. mode of transmission
4. How often did the disease reappear in Europe and for how long? When did the disease pretty
much disappear from Europe? What measures were taken at the time to prevent the spread of
the disease?
5. What are some of the estimates as to how much of Europe’s population was killed during the
course of the disease? Why do the estimates vary so much?
6. What were the psychological effects of the plague on the people of Europe? Which group
suffered not only from the effects of the plague but from persecution at this time as well?
7. Identify one political, economic and social impact that the Black Death had on Europe. Hint:
look for an effect on feudalism (political), peasantry and the middle class (economic) and the
Church (social).
8. Is plague still a threat today? Where have there been recent outbreaks of the disease? (within
the last 15 years) Identify carriers of the bacillus that cause the Black Death today. (You have
to do your own Google search for this question)