The Black Death
Focus Questions
1. Where did it originate?
• The first known account of the disease was in 1338/1339 in Central China
• It went on to infect India by the date 1346
2. What is it?
Most researchers believe it was caused by the spread of the bacterium “Yersinia pestis”
3. How was the disease spread?
• Fleas that lived on the European black rat were called” Xenopsylla cheopis”
• Although sometimes a desperate flea would bite a human contracting the disease?
• This would then spread by the bacterium being spread by the human fleas jumping from one human to another giving of the disease
4. What are the symptoms?
• Initial symptoms included weakness, fever, trembling and sweating
• Pneumatic form: Parched throats
• In severe
Focus Questions
1. Where did it originate?
• The first known account of the disease was in 1338/1339 in Central China
• It went on to infect India by the date 1346
2. What is it?
Most researchers believe it was caused by the spread of the bacterium “Yersinia pestis”
3. How was the disease spread?
• Fleas that lived on the European black rat were called” Xenopsylla cheopis”
• Although sometimes a desperate flea would bite a human contracting the disease?
• This would then spread by the bacterium being spread by the human fleas jumping from one human to another giving of the disease
4. What are the symptoms?
• Initial symptoms included weakness, fever, trembling and sweating
• Pneumatic form: Parched throats
• In severe