Black Death

The Black Death of 1348 to 1350

In Medieval England[->0], the Black Death was to kill 1.5 million people out of an estimated total of 4 million people between 1348 and 1350. No medicalknowledge[->1] existed in Medieval England[->2] to cope with the disease. After 1350, it was to strike England another six times by the end of the century. Understandably, peasants[->3] were terrified at thenews that the Black Death might be approaching their village or town[->4].
The Black Death is thought to have started in China or central Asia,[3] before spreading west. It is estimated to have killed25 million people or 30% of the population of China.[4][5] The plague then travelled along the Silk Road[->5] and reached the Crimea[->6] by 1346. From there, it was probably carried by Oriental ratfleas[->7] living on the black rats[->8] that were regular passengers on merchant ships[->9]. Spreading throughout the Mediterranean[->10] and Europe, the Black Death is estimated to have killed 30–60percent of Europe's population

The Black Death is the name given to a disease called the bubonic plague which was rampant during the Fourteenth Century. In fact, the bubonic plague affected Englandmore than once in that century but its impact on English society from 1348 to 1350 was terrible. No amount of medical knowledge[->11] could help England when the bubonic plague struck. It was also tohave a major impact on England’s social structure which lead to the Peasants Revolt of 1381[->12].
The Black Death was caused by fleas carried by rats that were very common in towns[->13] and cities.The fleas bit into their victims literally injecting them with the disease. Death could be very quick for the weaker victims.The first signs of the plague were lumps in the groin or armpits. Afterthis, livid black spots appeared on the arms and thighs and other parts of the body. Few recovered. Almost all died within three days, usually without any fever."
Written evidence from the time...