The Black Death
The Black Death was a terrifying disease that spread through Europe between 1347 and 1351 where fatalities were suffered in greater numbers than any other epidemic or war up to that time. In Europe alone twenty-five million people died in Asia and Africa the mortality rate was even higher.
Where Did it Come From and How did You Contract it?
It originated from Asia and is thought to have been carried by the Oriental rat flea.The process is as follows-The flea drinks an infected rats blood-The bacteria multiply-The fleas gut is clogged with bacteria-The flea bites a human and regurgitates the blood into an open wound-The human is infected.The symptoms then appear,which can be any of the following-High fever,Chills,Rashes,
swelling under arms and legs(Buboes),Delirium, Hemorrhaging of capillaries and Black blotches on the skin hence the name-Black Death.
What Did People do to Try and Stop Death?
Some people believed that the Black Death was sent from God to punish them for sins and crimes they had committed, while others believed they had liquids inside of them called humors and
that too much of one liquid would cause disease,so they cut themselves to let the excess liquid run out. Also when people got Buboes they tried to cut them off to see if it would save their lives.
How Did it Travel?
It traveled about 10 km a day along with the rats and the fleas.To cross seas it took the sea routes for trade and infected the trade on board.When it threatened to engulf America,something had to be done.England and other Countries set up a rat extermination program and for every dead rat you brought to the council you got 1/2 shilling and for every rat that was alive you got a shilling.
The Ages of the Black Death
After the main Black Death outbreak there was smaller outbreaks for about every ten years for about 50 years
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