The Past Present and Future of the Bubonic Plague

What was the Black Death?

• A war in the 14th century

• A natural disaster like a tsunami

• A disease outbreak in the 14th century

• A famous book

How much of Europe's population was killed by the Black Death in just four years?

• Nearly 25%

• Nearly 50%

• Nearly 75%

• Nearly 10%

What bacterium causes the bubonic plague?

• Staphylococcus aureus

• Vibrio cholerae

• Escherichia coli

• Yersinia pestis

What was a major reason for the high death toll of the Black Death compared to modern outbreaks?

• The bacterium was more deadly in the past

• People were more vulnerable due to poor living conditions

• Modern medicine was not available in the past

• The disease spread through water

What significant societal change occurred after the Black Death?

• Increase in the use of technology

• Decrease in social mobility

• A decrease in agricultural production

• Improvement in living standards and weakening of feudalism

What biological impact did the Black Death have on the surviving population?

• It increased the average lifespan immediately

• It led to a population with genes that may resist the disease

• It caused a decrease in genetic diversity

• It made the population immune to all diseases

Why is studying the Black Death important today?

• To prevent the return of feudalism

• To learn more about medieval history

• To potentially save us from a similar future epidemic

• Because it's an interesting story

How did the Black Death spread?

• Through infected animals only

• Directly from one person to another

• Through contaminated water

• By airborne transmission

What was the condition of most Europeans before the Black Death struck?

• They had access to modern medicine

• They experienced famine, poverty, and poor health

• They were immune to most diseases

• They were wealthy and healthy