The Middle Ages
Life During the Black Plague
What is it?
The black plague was a disease that swept across Europe and killed millions of people. Historians believe that the plague came from the rat. When the rat came to towns the fleas on the humans and other animals started biting the rats. Once the fleas bit the rats they were now infected and went back to a human. Once they got back to the human they bit them and the human was then infected.
The Black Death
Symptoms
Fever
The victim would first get a fever. The disease could be passed by sneeze, touch, or cough.
Headaches
They would then get a headache.
Swollen Lymph Nodes
The lymph nodes then began to swell. The lymph nodes are found by the side of the neck, the armpits, and the groin area.
What Happens Next
After the victim had a fever, headache, and swollen lymph nodes, they began to bleed internally. The victim would then begin to die a slow death. When they were just about to die the pockets of blood would burst and black liquid would go everywhere. That is why this disease is called the Black Death.
Statistics
Between 1347-1351 there was between 24-25 million Europeans killed by the Black Death. 25-40% of the population of Europe was killed. These are some of the towns that were affected by the Black Death and how many people were lost.
London, England: 100,000
Norwich, England: 53,374
Strasbourg, Germany: 16,000
Venice, Italy: 100,000
Smolensk, Russia: All but 5 people
URL's for Pictures
1. http://summitpediatrics.blogspot.com/2011/02/fever-friend-or-foe.html
2. http://inside919.ning.com/profiles/blogs/will-you-need-surgery-for-your-headache
3. http://www.healthypeoples.com/htmlk_l.html
4. http://www.usu.edu/markdamen/1320Hist&Civ/chapters/06PLAGUE.htm
5. http://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-events/black-death5.htm