Bubonic Plague

During the Middle Ages the greatest number of deaths came from the spreading of plagues. During the Middle Ages many outbreaks of plagues occurred, but the one that caused the most significant amount of deaths was the bubonic plague. The bubonic plague spread throughout France, England, Germany, and Italy. One third of the population of these countries was killed by this plague. People of the Middle Ages did not know how this disease was spread, so they gathered together; this was a big contributor to how quickly this disease spread.

The symptoms of the bubonic plague began with aching limbs, vomiting of blood, and the swelling of the lyphnodes. The lyphnodes in your neck, groin, and armpits began to swell, and would burst with three or four days. The plague was worsened by not only its disgusting appearance, but also the excruciating pain it caused and how rapidly it spread.

The bubonic plague was also called the "Black Death" because the area of infection would usually turn a greyish black color. The disease started in China, where it killed about 35 million people. The disease was brought to Europe from China on the backs of infected rats, that came on the cargo ships of sailors. The fleas were also infected and spread the disease to the people.

Merchant ships from China arrived in Messina, Italy by the Black Sea for trading purposes. Within a year the disease infected people as far as England. The disease spread so quickly because nobody knew how to prevent it. They thought that gathering together for church services and prayer would heal, however this caused the disease spread even more rapidly.

The bubonic plague was so devastating to the people of the Middle Ages because they were so close together so such a long amount of time. One way in which death could have been avoided would be to have not had so much contact with the infected people. There is now a cure for the bubonic plague, but it still claims lives in a very painful and disgusting way.

McKitterick, Rosamond. Times Medieval World. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003.

Guy, John. Medieval Life. London: Ticktock Media Limited, 2001.