The Black Death – GCSE History Eduqas Revision

Introduction to the Black Death

The Black Death refers to the devastating plague that struck England between 1348 and 1350.
It originated from Asia and spread across Europe via Italian merchants.
The disease was highly contagious, spread through flea-infested rats and person-to-person contact.
It is estimated that the Black Death killed between one-third to one-half of the population in England.

The symptoms included painful swellings (buboes), fever, and vomiting, often leading to death within a week.
The public response to the plague was one of fear and confusion. With no understanding of contagion, people turned to religious explanations and superstitions.
Some believed it was the punishment from God, leading to penitential processions and the persecution of marginalised groups.
Those who could afford to, isolated themselves in an attempt to escape the disease, a primitive form of quarantine.

With massive population loss, England faced a severe labour shortage in agriculture.
As a result, surviving peasants could demand higher wages, upsetting the feudal system.
The Statute of Labourers (1351) attempted to freeze wages at pre-plague levels, but it proved largely ineffective.
The upheaval contributed to the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381, as labourers sought better working conditions and rights.

The reduced population led to land availability and better living conditions for the survivors.
The plague returned in waves throughout the late 14th and 15th centuries, although none as deadly as the first.
The Black Death brought about a shift in cultural attitudes towards life and death, reflected in art and literature.
Overall, the plague went on to redefine England’s social structure, economy, and relationship with the Church.