What Was It?
The Black Death was a plague the spread across medieval Europe in 590CE to 1500CE. It was an infection caused by rats and then spread by fleas. The rats were carrying a lot of germs and bacteria at the time so a flea would bite the rat and then would and bite a person. Once the person had been bitten the disease would start to spread.
There were many symptoms that came with the Black Death.People would swell in areas like the
armpits and the neck and then the swelling would spread all over the body. Other
symptoms were falling over while talking, spitting blood and black spots all
over the body hence the name Black Death.
There were many symptoms that came with the Black Death.People would swell in areas like the
armpits and the neck and then the swelling would spread all over the body. Other
symptoms were falling over while talking, spitting blood and black spots all
over the body hence the name Black Death.
Religon and Beliefes At The Time
Religious beliefs were very important in medieval times. When good things happened the people believed god was rewarding them for good things that they had done, and if bad things happened they believed that god was punishing them.
In medieval time medicine came second to religion so the priests were considered more important than doctors in treating the sick. When someone was being treated the doctor was allowed to assist but only after the priest had finished praying and if the patient was an important or wealthy person the doctor would have to wait until several priests and churchmen had said prayers. If the illness was very contagious the doctor would either wear a special mask to stop him from catching it or no assist at all.
In medieval time medicine came second to religion so the priests were considered more important than doctors in treating the sick. When someone was being treated the doctor was allowed to assist but only after the priest had finished praying and if the patient was an important or wealthy person the doctor would have to wait until several priests and churchmen had said prayers. If the illness was very contagious the doctor would either wear a special mask to stop him from catching it or no assist at all.
What Did the People of the Time Think?
There were lots and lots of different beliefs about the plague. Many people were scared because they didn’t know what had caused it, for example some people believed that it was good punishing them, some thought that foreigners or followers of a different religion had put something in their drinking water that had made them sick, some people thought it was something in the air that was causing it and others believed that the position of the earth had something to with it. All these different beliefs led to some strange cures.
Some Strange Cures
Aromatherapy
In the time of the Black Death people believed that smelling different thing would help cure the plague doctors and priests believed that smelling sweet flowers or herbs would help victims.
Rotten Treacle
Treacle is a by-product of sugar production was often given to patients. But for it to be considered effective it would have to be at least ten years old. The sticky, smelly substance was believed to not only rid the body of the effects of the disease but of the disease itself.
In the time of the Black Death people believed that smelling different thing would help cure the plague doctors and priests believed that smelling sweet flowers or herbs would help victims.
Rotten Treacle
Treacle is a by-product of sugar production was often given to patients. But for it to be considered effective it would have to be at least ten years old. The sticky, smelly substance was believed to not only rid the body of the effects of the disease but of the disease itself.
Wash Yourself with Urine
Urine was used a lot for medical reasons in medieval Europe, and this was mostly because it had easy access. Victims of the Black Death would bath in urine 2-3 times a day to relive the pain of the symptoms.
Smear Yourself with Human Poop
This solution is one that plague victims didn’t like very much. The buboes (sores) were cut open, and a mixture of tree resins,
flower roots, and poo was placed inside the open sore and then bandaged up to stop the mixture from coming out.
Urine was used a lot for medical reasons in medieval Europe, and this was mostly because it had easy access. Victims of the Black Death would bath in urine 2-3 times a day to relive the pain of the symptoms.
Smear Yourself with Human Poop
This solution is one that plague victims didn’t like very much. The buboes (sores) were cut open, and a mixture of tree resins,
flower roots, and poo was placed inside the open sore and then bandaged up to stop the mixture from coming out.
Rub Your Wounds with a Live Chicken
This cure is probably
the most bizarre the victim would shave a hen’s butt and then bandage it to
their sores . . . while the chicken was still alive. After a while the chicken
would then get sick so they would wash it and then repeat the process until only
the chicken or victim was healthy.
This cure is probably
the most bizarre the victim would shave a hen’s butt and then bandage it to
their sores . . . while the chicken was still alive. After a while the chicken
would then get sick so they would wash it and then repeat the process until only
the chicken or victim was healthy.
Major places the plauge affected
The Black Death spread through Asia, china, Europe, Alexandria, North African coast, Libya, Tunis, morocco, Algeria, Marrakesh and Nile valley, but it was most severe in Europe
what were living conditions like
Most houses were small, containing only one or two rooms. Most people slept in the same room even the well-off families and in country homes they would sometimes have to sleep with their animals. If someone became ill, it was impossible to isolate them from other members of the family because of the small house. So if one member of the family became sick, it was likely that they all would.
The peasants slept and worked in the same clothes for days and even weeks at a time without washing themselves or their clothes. The nobles were not much better. Soap was made of lye, which was very rough on the skin. There was no toothpaste or toothbrushes. People used watered spices on their lips and teeth, but all that did was briefly hide the smell of rotting teeth.
The peasants slept and worked in the same clothes for days and even weeks at a time without washing themselves or their clothes. The nobles were not much better. Soap was made of lye, which was very rough on the skin. There was no toothpaste or toothbrushes. People used watered spices on their lips and teeth, but all that did was briefly hide the smell of rotting teeth.