The Black Death

The Black Death

Open Ended

What is an epidemic?

Epidemic

A disease that affects a large number of people within a community, population, or region.

Open Ended

What is a pandemic?

Pandemic

An epidemic that's spread over multiple countries or continents.

Life Before the Black Death

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Think about what you know about disease. Why do you think the Black Death spread so quickly and killed so many?

The Black Death

A pandemic that ravaged Europe between 1347-135. The Black Death is a name for the disease known as the Bubonic Plague. It is cause by a bacteria known as Yersina Pestis.

It Arrives

While the Plague began in Asia, it arrived in Europe in October 1347, when 12 ships from the Black Sea docked at the Sicilian port of Messina. People gathered on the docks were met with a horrifying surprise: Most sailors aboard the ships were dead, and those still alive were gravely ill and covered in black boils that oozed blood and pus.

Symptoms of the Black Death

• Boils on the groin or armpit

• Fever

• Chills

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Aches & Pains

• Death

Spreading the Plague

The plague was spread through trading routes as people moved from city to city selling and trading their goods. It could be spread through the air which made in incredibly contagious.

Ring around the Rosie.

This popular nursery rhyme could be about the Black Death. “Ring around the Rosies” refers to the red rings that started to develop on plague victim's skin. “Pockets Full of Posies” refer to the belief that disease was spread through bad smells, which means that people held bunches of flowers to their faces when going out in public.

Open Ended

What do you think the lines "Ashes, Ashes" and "We all fall down" are about?

Multiple Choice

What is Yersina Pestis?

• The bacteria that causes the plague
• The virus that causes the plague
• The name of the medicine that cures the plague
• Henry VIII's third wife

Multiple Choice

What is the actual name for the Black Plague

• Rodent Plague
• Black Misery 
• My life is over Plague
• Bubonic Plague

Multiple Choice

^{Where did the Black Death technically start?}

• Asia
• Northern Europe 
• Australia 
• Northern Africa

Multiple Choice

 ^{_{This famous children's nursery rhyme was about the Black Death. CREEPY!}}

• London Bridge 
• Red Rover Red Rover
• Rain Rain Go Away
• Ring Around The Rosie 

Multiple Choice

What was NOT a symptom of the Bubonic Plague?

• Fever

• Chest Pain

• Vomiting

• Boils

Multiple Choice

Who was affected by the disease?

• ONLY Mothers 
• Everyone
• ONLY Pregnant Women
• ONLY Elderly 

Multiple Choice

The most likely place to be infected by the Black Death would be

• Deserts
• Manors
• Cities
• Castles

Multiple Choice

The path of the Black Death usually followed…

• trade routes
• ocean currents
• the pope
• war fare