Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

76

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The MediTerranean island of sicily was a terrifying

place in 1347. everywhere people were dying of a mysterious

disease. Those who caught it usually had violent stomach cramps

and boils under their arms. dark patches covered their bodies, and

death followed within three days. The disease became known as

the Black death because of the dark patches; today we know it was

bubonic plague. it spread into italy and france. By the end of

1348, millions had died—about one-third of the population of

europe. There was panic as the Black death

advanced. People avoided each other, fearful

that they might catch the plague. Many

townspeople fled into the countryside,

carrying the disease with them. There was

a shortage of food because there were

fewer people to farm the land. fields

were filled with rotting animal bodies.

TreaTMenT of

The Plague

doctors used herbs or cut

open people’s veins to let out

“bad” blood. But these methods

failed. Many people refused to

go near sufferers, even sick

members of their own family.

Black Death

PeasanTs’ revolT

The Black death killed so many

people that there was a shortage

of workers. The survivors

demanded higher wages and

organized revolts in france

and england against high taxes

and strict, out-of-date laws.

bubonic plague

fleas living

on black

rats carried

the bubonic

plague. The fleas passed

on the disease when they

bit people. a more

infectious form of the

plague—pneumonic

plague—was spread

by coughing.

sPread of Plague

The Black death began

in asia. it spread through

Turkey, then arrived on

ships at sicily in october

1347, and reached Britain

near the end of 1348. The

plague reappeared every

few years until the early

18th century; outbreaks

were even reported in

the early 19th century.

Large plague

grave where

victims

were buried

15th-century illumination

Map showing

how the

plague

spread in

waves

across

Europe

1347

1350

1348

disease

Medicine, history of

Medieval europe

cross of deaTh

crosses were painted on the

doors of plague-ridden houses.

criminals and volunteers put

the dead bodies on carts and

buried them in large graves.

The Black deaTh

death came to rich and poor

alike. some, thinking the

plague was a punishment from

god, whipped themselves and

prayed to be saved.

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