Understanding the Black Death

What century did the Black Death occur?

• 20th century

• 18th century

• 16th century

• 14th century

What bacterium causes the Black Death and bubonic plague?

• Mycobacterium leprae

• Escherichia coli

• Yersinia pestis

• Bacillus anthracis

How did the Black Death primarily spread during the medieval period?

• Contaminated water

• Person to person

• Airborne particles

• Infected animals

What makes modern outbreaks of bubonic plague less deadly than the Black Death?

• Better hygiene practices

• Less virulent strains of Yersinia pestis

• Use of antibiotics

• Stronger human immune systems

What contributed to the rapid spread of the Black Death in Europe?

• Global travel

• Direct person-to-person transmission

• Lack of quarantine measures

• Infected livestock

What was a major factor that made Europeans vulnerable to the Black Death?

• Lack of medical knowledge

• Malnutrition and poor health

• Lack of hygiene

• Overpopulation

What societal change followed the Black Death?

• Decrease in social mobility

• Increase in feudalism

• Decrease in agricultural production

• Improved living standards

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

• Increased susceptibility to diseases

• Decreased genetic diversity

• Potential for disease-resistant genes

• Shorter average lifespan

Why is studying the Black Death important today?

• To prepare for future epidemics

• To improve medieval history curriculum

• To understand historical population trends

• To prevent the return of feudalism

What is a potential threat from bubonic plague today?

• Global warming

• Decreased genetic diversity

• Drug-resistant strains

• Overpopulation