China in 1300's

Hello All,

What do you know about the bubonic plague? I was asked this question and I learned so much more than I thought I knew about it. Here are a few more details about this life threatening disease. So if you’re ever asked this question you’ll be prepared to answer it.

The outbreak of the bubonic plague started in China in 1330. It was transmitted by fleas, which affected many people and rodents. It could be transmitted from person to person or by flea bites. The plagued spread very quickly around the world by merchant ships and trade routes to western Asia and Europe, which caused millions to die. Many people had painful swelling of the lymph glands, high fevers, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, and formation of buboes. People also had red spots on their skin then they turn black. The black spot on the skin was due to dried blood that accumulated under the skin’s surface. By the time the plague spread throughout England it was called “The Black Death” because of the black spots it left on people’s skin.

In Europe one-third of the people died from the bubonic plague. Many people were not buried properly and their bodies were left to decay in abandoned streets and homes. In medieval Europe, people believed that cats were evil and many of them were killed which increased the rat population and fleas carrying the infections disease. Five years had passed and 25 million people lost their lives between 1347 and 1352. There were labor shortages throughout Europe. Many of the workers demanded higher wages, but they were turned down by the landlords. This caused revolts throughout England, France, Belgium and Italy. The plague disappeared in the 1600’s but it left a constant fear in the society that it would return.

Ericka B.