The Middle Ages (continue) Part 2 - Introduction to 'The Black Death' - History lesson for kids

We learned about the 'Feudal system' of the Middle Ages and today we will have a look at one of the most terrible epidemics that swept the nation ..... 'The Black death"

The towns were dirty, the doctors did not have the knowledge and the rats living in these areas with the fleas that had the disease would spread it to the people.  The conditions were just right for these germs to flourish and then the 'traders' came from other places and they would carry the disease to other countries and places they would go on their trade route.

By 1350 this plague would spread through England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland and it is estimated that almost half of the population died.  The people were powerless against it and there was no way they knew how to stop it.

This plague changed the way people lived.  Some were scared, some did not care what chances they took because they did not know how long they would live, some became depressed and did not want to leave their houses and some just decided to accept whatever fate comes their way.

The people did not have a lot of knowledge about certain illnesses, they were not aware of germs and how it can spread and the doctors only had basic tools and to diagnose certain diseases and to treat it.

They believed that you 'mood' would show them how good your health is and many times they believed you were possessed by evil spirit when you were actually sick.

There were terrible treatment and believes that were practised by these doctors.

They did not understand where this plague came from and how it spread so they had their own ideas on this.  They believe a few different theories

1. They believed that God was punishing earth or it could be because of how the planets moved
2. They believed that their enemies had poisoned their wells and they drank the water
3. They thought it was caused by the bad odors in the towns and the dirty air
4. There were even a few silly theories like you could get it or give it to somebody if you stared at them or if you wore pointed shoes
5. They blamed the people that came to the town that did not stay there

You can watch the video on the symptoms of this illness but if your are sensitive to watching certain things, rather skip it

Tomorrow we will have a look at how the disease would spread and what practices the doctors tried to find a cure for it as well as the impact that this had on the population.