The Black Death
The plague killed up to a third of Europeans in the 14th century.
About this topic
The Black Death was a devastating plague pandemic that struck Eurasia and North Africa in the 1340s and reached Europe in 1347, killing perhaps a third to half of Europeans, and tens of millions overall. It was caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, mostly spread by fleas living on black rats, which travelled on ships and along trade routes from Asia.
Symptoms of bubonic plague included painful swollen lymph nodes called buboes, fever and often death within days. People did not understand germs, so they blamed bad air, sinful behaviour or minorities, and Jewish communities were persecuted. Cities tried quarantines, a word from the forty days ships waited at Venice, but sanitation was poor and rats flourished.
The social effects were huge: with fewer workers, survivors could demand higher wages and freedom, weakening serfdom and feudalism, as in the Peasants' Revolt of 1381. Landowners lost power, the Church lost authority, and art turned to themes of death. Example: whole villages were abandoned. Misconception: plague did not disappear and still exists today, though antibiotics now treat it. The pandemic shows how trade networks spread both goods and disease.
Key ideas
- Spread by fleas on rats
- Labour shortage raised wages
- Changed society
Quick check
Use cases: where The Black Death helps
- Homework: review the key idea behind The Black Death before you start a problem set.
- Exam revision: use the quick check to test whether you can recall The Black Death without notes.
- Visual learning: play with the interactive lab to see how The Black Death changes when you adjust its inputs.
- Teaching a friend: explain The Black Death in your own words, then compare your version with the key ideas.
Studying the past helps explain today’s politics, borders, cultures and institutions.
Frequently asked questions
What is The Black Death?
The plague killed up to a third of Europeans in the 14th century.
What will I learn in The Black Death?
Spread by fleas on rats. Labour shortage raised wages. Changed society.
Is The Black Death part of World History?
Yes. It is one of 80 World History topics on LearnViz HighSchoolEdu, with 3 key ideas, a live animation and a quick check.
Does the The Black Death lab work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The animation resizes to fit your screen and supports touch, so you can drag, tap and slide with your finger.
How should I study The Black Death?
Read the summary and key ideas first, play with the interactive lab to see the idea in motion, then answer the quick check. If you get a question wrong, go back to the key idea it tests.
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