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The Black Death 01
The fleas which caused Black Death were carried by black rats.

The Black Death 01

Explore how the Black Death swept across Europe, the terrifying symptoms it caused, and how this plague changed medieval society, beliefs, and everyday life in Britain.

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Fascinating Fact:

Symptoms included painful swellings called buboes, fever, sickness, and bruised black patches on the skin.

In KS3 History, the Black Death is studied as a major turning point in medieval Europe. The plague reached England in 1348 and killed a large part of the population. Towns and villages struggled to cope with the speed of infection and the fear it caused. Historians explore how the Black Death affected work, religion, and power, and how survivors tried to explain and respond to such a shocking disaster.

Key Terms

  • Black Death: A deadly outbreak of plague in the fourteenth century that killed millions of people across Europe and Asia.
  • Buboes: Painful swellings in the armpits, neck, or groin that were a common and frightening symptom of the plague.
  • Plague: A serious infectious disease, often spread by fleas on rats, which can cause rapid illness and high death rates.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What was the Black Death in medieval Europe?

The Black Death was a major outbreak of plague in the fourteenth century. It spread across Europe and Asia, killing millions of people and causing huge social and economic change.

How did the Black Death spread so quickly?

The Black Death spread quickly through trade routes, crowded towns, and poor hygiene. Fleas on rats carried the disease, and close human contact helped infection move from place to place.

How did the Black Death affect life in Britain?

The Black Death reduced the population, which meant labour was in short supply. Wages could rise, some peasants gained more bargaining power, and attitudes to religion and death often changed.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .
In which year did the Black Death first reach England?
1308
1328
1348
1378
The first cases were recorded in ports of the south west of England and spread north and east from there
2 .
What is another name for the Black Death?
Bubonic Plague
Bubotic Plague
Bucolic Plague
Bulimic Plague
The bubonic plague (as well as the septicemic plague and the pneumonic plague) are commonly believed to be the cause of the Black Death
3 .
The plague originally spread from where?
Africa
Asia
North America
South America
From there it spread steadily into Europe
4 .
How was the Black Death spread?
By dirty drinking water
By fleas
By flies
By open sewers
As the fleas bit people, they transferred a particular type of bacteria to their bloodstream
5 .
The fleas were carried by which creatures?
Black rats
Harvest mice
Hedgehogs
Stray cats
The rats arrived on board the trading ships
6 .
What were buboes that gave Bubonic Plague its name?
Coughing fits
Large dark swellings
Splitting headaches
Throat ulcers
They formed in the armpits and groin
7 .
What percentage of Britain's population is thought to have died from the plague?
5-15%
10-25%
33-50%
70-80%
It is very difficult to know the exact numbers
8 .
What did many believe about the Black Death?
It was a punishment from God for their sins
It would only kill the very elderly
People could be immunised against it
The doctors could cure it
Some whipped themselves to show God they were sorry. It was another 500 years before people began to really understand the true causes of disease
9 .
Things were made worse by pneumonic plague that attacked what?
Bone marrow
The brain
The kidneys
The lungs
Any word starting with pneumon is something to do with the lungs
10 .
Once the 1348 plague died out, which was not true?
No people were left over the age of 21
So many had died that there was a lack of workers
Surviving workers were able to ask for higher wages
The Lord of the Manor had to pay his workers more
There were several important social changes caused by the Black Death
You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Causes and effects of the Black Death

Author:  Jan Crompton (KS3 Geography & History Teacher, Professional Quiz Writer)
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