Work Cited

Works Cited

Bingham, Jane. Usborne World History. Ed. Fiona Chandler. London: Usborne, 1997. Print.

"The Black Death (Overveiw)." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 11 May 2011.

Currie, Stephen. Miracles, Saints, and Pagan Superstition: The Medieval Mind. Farmington Hills: Lucent, 2006. Print.

Macdonald, Fiona, and David Salariya. First Facts about the Middle Ages. Ed. Penny Clarke. New York: Peter Bedrick, 1997. Print. The First Facts.

Singman, Jeffrey L. "Material Culture: Health and Disease." Daily Life Through History Online. Greenwood Press, 2002. Web. 12 May 2011.

Skeen, Bradley A. "Health and Disease in Medieval Europe." Ancient and Medeival History Online. Facts On File Inc., 2011. Web. 11 May 2011.

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Who were the Flagellant Brothers, and what did they do?

When was the last outbreak of the Black Death?

     The last outbreak of the Black Death was in 1351. This is a good thing, because that means the European people didn't have to suffer any more, and we, as in today times, are HIGHLY unable to get it. But even after the last outbreak, local epidemics of the plague were reported in various locations. This happened throughout the world for about 100 years. But the local epidemics weren't as severe as the first 3 year epidemic.

     To this day, historians are still arguing about if the epidemic changed history forever. I think it did health wise, because maby it made people more aware of there surroundings and what kind of diseases are out there. But I have no clue what the historians are thinking. They always have far out explanations of what really happened or how it changed "our history." But what i do know is that this Black Death epidemic was one of the most deadly, widespread, and largest epidemics, if not the largest, of all of human history! And I also know I am VERY thankful for the kind of health care technology we have today, so if any epidemics like the Black Death happen, we will be prepared and can cure it.

What were the different types of the plague and how did they affect the people that caught it?

      There were 3 different types of the plague. The first was the Bubonic Plague. This plague was the most common of all plagues, and it infected the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is a system that helps carries fluid to your heart, for those of you who didn't know. There were a lot of gross, painful symptoms to go along with this plague, as if just catching it wasn't enough. First off, you would get painful swellings in your lymph nodes, and then black areas, or patches ALL over your skin. And if that isn't enough for you, you would also get fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, exhaustion and apparently a HORRIBLE smell!!!!! Most people who caught this plague would die within 5-7 days.

        The second type of plague you could have caught in the middle ages is the Pneumonic plague. This plague was an infection to the respiratory system. Some symptoms included: coughing, coughing up blood, chest pains, shortness of breath and a VERY high fever. Almost all people that caught the Pneumonic plague died within two days. Most people didn't know how long they had to live, so they wouldn't worry about their symptoms. But I guess that wasn't the best idea, was it?

        The last, and most deadly plague of the Black Death epidemic was the Septicemic plague. This was the least common plague you could catch, which is a good thing. The Septicemic plague was an infection to your circulatory system, or blood system as I call it. Many of the symptoms you would have had are similar to the ones of the Bubonic plague. Accept you would have had seizers, and a tendency to bleed randomly. This plague would have killed you in less than a day. All of these plague are caused by the same bacillus, Yersinia pestis, or a germ.

       I think the moral of this post is: STAY AWAY FROM RATS!!!!

What were some common symptoms of the Black Death?

     The first symptoms people would get would be painful black swellings. These swellings were usually under the arms of the victims, were their lympnodes are. Then there were itchy purple rashes ALL over the body. I can't imagine how uncomfortable that would be!!!! And the last common symptom was a burning fever. These were the most common symptoms you would get, but just a small portion of all the symptoms out there available for the victims to get.



This is a plague pit!! NASTY!!!



     People who caught the plague were promised death. Almost nobody survived if they caught this disease. Most people who caught it would die within 1-7 days of catcing it. If and when you died, you were likely to have no family to be there for you, because either they didn't want to come near you because they didn't want to catch the disease or they were dead too. So you were just pretty much left there in your house until the stench of your rotting body got the neighbors attention. Then they would call the wheelbarrow guy so he could come pick you up and cart you off. Then you were put in a HUGE pit full of other dead people. These pits were called "plague pits". Wonder why? And that was your funeral.

     These are just a few of the symptoms you would get, and the burial ceremony you were given if you caught the plague. Or more than likely WHEN you caught the plague.

What did the Europeans think caused the plague and how did they believe they could treat it?

      The Europeans had many reasons and thoughts on how the plague was first introduced. One reason is that they believed the Jews caused the plague by spoiling the drinking water. It seems like people back then blamed the Jews for EVERYTHING!!!! Another belief the people had was that God sent them the plague. But they believed he sent it to them in return for all of their sins. Neither of them really make any sense to me.

      There were a bunch of bizzar ways the Europeans thought you could stop the plague by. One of the oddest was carrying around a "bezoar stone." Another weird one was washing in vinegar. Why would anyone want to do that, you'll just be dirtier than you were before!!! Also supposedly if you didn't eat rich foods or drank alcohol, you couldn't get the plague. But that obviously didn't work either.

     One group of messed up men called the Flagellant Brothers thought they could rid themselves of the plague. They thought they could do this by going through a bunch of cities and whipping themselves. Again, why on Earth would u want to go through cities and have people watch you whip yourself!?!?! While they were thinking they were ridding themselves of this deadly plague, they were actually spreading it even more!!! Wow aren't they real smart..........

      These are they ways people thought you could rid yourself of the plague, and how the plague was even introduced in the first place.

When was the Black Death first introduced to Medieval Europe?

       The Bubonic plague, or Black Death was first introduced to medieval Europe in 1348 A.D. Historians think that the plague was brought from trade ships coming from Asia. But it wasn't the trade ships that caused the disease, it was the deadly rats aboard. These rats weren't born with disease in them, they were infected by fleas. The fleas were infected by the disease, and when they bit the rat, the rat would get the disease. Then the rat would go on the trade ships, usually attracted to some kind of food on the ship. When the ships would arrive to Europe, the rats would be released from the ships. Then the rats would go and bite people once off the ships.

       As soon as the person was bit, the germs from the flea that went through the rat, were  inside you. Then the germs would travel through all of your body. This immediately made you sick, and gave you a lot of painful symptoms. Once you got this disease, you were promised death. Almost nobody survived the epidemic. Most people who caught the disease, were dead within a week or less, depending on which plague you were infected by.