The Black Death and the Peasants' Revolt

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England Before the Black Death

England was a rural and agrarian society: close to 90% of people lived in the countryside.
The population on the eve of the plague was probably around 6 million, though estimates range from 3 to 7 million.
London was by far the largest city, with perhaps 70,000 inhabitants; Norwich had around 12,000 and York around 10,000.
The main export and source of national wealth was wool, first exported raw to Flanders and later increasingly as finished cloth.
Earlier crises such as the Great Famine of 1315–1317 killed many people, but there is no evidence of significant population decline before 1348.
Under Edward III, England was becoming a major European power, winning the Battle of Neville's Cross (1346) against the Scots and the Battle of Crécy (1346) against the French.

The Arrival of the Black Death

The Black Death was a bubonic plague pandemic that reached England in June 1348.
It was caused by Yersinia pestis bacteria and was the first and most severe outbreak of the second pandemic.
The disease originated in Asia and spread west along trade routes across Europe, arriving in Britain from the English province of Gascony.
It was spread by flea-infected rats: rats were the reservoir hosts of the bacteria and the Oriental rat flea was the main vector.
The first known case in England was a seaman who arrived at Weymouth, Dorset, from Gascony in June 1348.
By autumn 1348 the plague had reached London, and by summer 1349 it covered the whole country, dying down by December.
The name Black Death was not used at the time; people called it the Great Pestilence or Great Mortality, and the term only became common in the late 17th century.

Symptoms and Types of Plague

Flea bites carried the bacteria into the lymphatic system, where they reached the lymph nodes.
In the lymph nodes the bacteria multiplied and formed swellings called buboes, giving the name bubonic plague.
After three or four days the bacteria entered the bloodstream and infected organs such as the spleen and lungs; the patient normally died a few days later.
Pneumonic plague was a different strain in which the bacteria became airborne and entered the lungs directly.
Pneumonic plague was far more virulent because it spread directly from person to person.
Septicaemic plague was rarer: the flea bite carried bacteria straight into the bloodstream, causing death very rapidly.
All three types of infection probably played a part in the Black Death.

Contemporary Beliefs and Attempted Cures

People at the time did not know about bacteria or fleas, so they explained the plague in other ways.
Many believed the plague was a punishment from God for the sins of humanity.
Others blamed bad air (miasma) or the alignment of the planets.
Some people blamed minority groups, such as Jewish communities, and attacked them.
Attempted cures included praying, fasting, carrying herbs or posies to ward off bad air, and bleeding or lancing buboes.
None of these remedies worked, because they did not address the real cause of the disease.

Impact on Population and Society

The plague killed an estimated 40–60% of England's population; earlier low estimates have been revised upwards.
The most immediate consequence was a halt to the campaigns of the Hundred Years' War.
In the long term, the fall in population caused a serious shortage of labour.
This labour shortage led to a rise in wages, which landowners resisted.
The landowners' resistance caused deep resentment among the lower classes.
The plague returned in 1361–1362, killing around 20% of the population, and continued to return intermittently through the 14th and 15th centuries.
Later outbreaks became less severe; one of the last was the Great Plague of London in 1665–1666.

The Statute of Labourers

After the Black Death, workers realised their labour was in demand and demanded higher wages.
Landowners and the government tried to force wages back down.
In 1351 Parliament passed the Statute of Labourers, which fixed wages at pre-plague levels.
It also tried to stop labourers from moving in search of better pay.
The law was widely resisted and often ignored, increasing tension between lords and peasants.
This tension helped set the scene for the Peasants' Revolt.

The Poll Tax and the Peasants' Revolt of 1381

To pay for war with France, the government introduced a series of poll taxes — taxes paid by every adult regardless of wealth.
The poll tax of 1381 was especially unpopular and triggered widespread anger.
In June 1381, rebels from Kent and Essex marched on London.
The rebels were led by Wat Tyler, and their demands included an end to serfdom and the poll tax.
The young king Richard II met the rebels and promised to grant their demands.
During a second meeting, Wat Tyler was killed; the rebellion then collapsed and was harshly suppressed.
Although the revolt failed at the time, in the long term serfdom ended in England.

The Decline of Feudalism

Feudalism was the system in which lords held land in return for service, and peasants worked the land in return for protection.
The Black Death made labour scarce, so peasants could demand better conditions and wages.
Many peasants left their manors to find work elsewhere, weakening the ties of serfdom.
Landowners tried to enforce old obligations, but over time they could not stop the changes.
By the end of the Middle Ages, serfdom had largely disappeared in England.
The Black Death also affected art and culture, and may have helped advance the use of the vernacular (English) instead of French or Latin.

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1.In which year did the Black Death first reach England?
Easy
- A1348
- B1381
- C1315
- D1361
2.Which bacterium causes the plague that we call the Black Death?
Easy
- AYersinia pestis
- BOriental rat flea
- CInfluenza virus
- DSmallpox virus
3.Which port did the first-known case of the Black Death in England arrive at?
Easy
- AWeymouth
- BLondon
- CNorwich
- DYork
4.Approximately what percentage of the English population died during the Black Death of 1348–1349?
Medium
- A40–60%
- B20%
- C10–20%
- D80–90%
5.What was the main long-term economic consequence of the Black Death in England?
Medium
- AA shortage of labour that led to higher wages
- BAn increase in the number of workers available
- CA fall in wages because fewer people were needed
- DThe end of the wool trade
6.What was the Peasants' Revolt of 1381 largely a result of?
Medium
- AResentment at attempts to resist higher wages after the Black Death
- BA new outbreak of the plague in 1381
- CThe English defeat at the Battle of Crécy
- DA rebellion against the Statute of Labourers
7.Which disease is caused by the same bacterium as bubonic plague but spreads directly from person to person through the air?
Medium
- APneumonic plague
- BSepticaemic plague
- CSmallpox
- DCholera
8.Where did the Black Death originate before it spread to England?
Medium
- AAsia
- BAfrica
- CNorth America
- DScandinavia

Thêm câu hỏi

9.Which statement best describes the spread of the Black Death within England after its arrival in June 1348?
Medium
- AIt reached London by autumn 1348 and covered the whole country by summer 1349
- BIt reached London by summer 1349 and covered the whole country by autumn 1348
- CIt stayed only in the south-west and never reached London
- DIt arrived in London first before any other place
10.What was the Statute of Labourers?
Medium
- AA law that tried to keep wages down after the Black Death
- BA law that gave peasants higher wages
- CA law that ended serfdom in England
- DA law that introduced the poll tax
11.Who was the young king of England during the Peasants' Revolt of 1381?
Medium
- ARichard II
- BEdward III
- CHenry V
- DJohn
12.Which of these was a direct consequence of the Black Death on England's wars?
Medium
- AThe campaigns of the Hundred Years' War were halted
- BThe Hundred Years' War ended permanently
- CEngland won the Battle of Crécy because of the plague
- DThe Scots invaded England
13.How did the Black Death affect the use of language in England?
Medium
- AIt may have helped advance the use of the vernacular
- BIt caused Latin to replace English in all documents
- CIt led to the banning of French in courts
- DIt had no effect on language at all
14.Which of these was a symptom of bubonic plague?
Medium
- ASwellings called buboes in the lymph nodes
- BA rash of red spots on the face
- CLoss of hair
- DBleeding from the ears
15.What was the main export that was the source of England's wealth in the mid-14th century?
Medium
- AWool
- BCloth
- CWine
- DCorn
16.Which city was the largest in England before the Black Death?
Medium
- ALondon
- BNorwich
- CYork
- DWinchester
17.What happened to serfdom in England in the long term after the Peasants' Revolt?
Medium
- AIt was ended
- BIt was strengthened
- CIt was reintroduced after being abolished
- DIt remained unchanged for centuries
18.Which sequence correctly orders these events?
Hard
- ABlack Death reaches England → Peasants' Revolt → Great Plague of London
- BPeasants' Revolt → Black Death reaches England → Great Plague of London
- CBlack Death reaches England → Great Plague of London → Peasants' Revolt
- DGreat Plague of London → Black Death reaches England → Peasants' Revolt
19.What was the main cause of the labour shortage in England after 1349?
Medium
- AThe huge fall in population caused by the Black Death
- BNew laws forbidding people to work
- CA sudden increase in the number of peasants
- DThe Hundred Years' War ending
20.Which of these was a common name used by people at the time for the Black Death?
Medium
- AThe Great Pestilence
- BThe Black Death
- CThe Plague of London
- DThe Great Famine
21.What was the effect of the Black Death on the Hundred Years' War?
Medium
- AIt halted the campaigns of the war
- BIt ended the war with a French victory
- CIt caused England to win the war
- DIt had no effect on the war
22.Which of these was a symptom of pneumonic plague?
Medium
- AThe bacteria become airborne and enter the lungs
- BBuboes form in the lymph nodes
- CThe flea bite carries bacteria directly into the blood
- DA rash appears on the arms and legs
23.What was the main way the Black Death spread to humans?
Medium
- AThrough flea bites after contact with rats
- BThrough drinking dirty water
- CThrough breathing in dust from fields
- DThrough touching infected soil
24.Which of these best describes the change in the population of England between 1348 and 1381?
Medium
- AA massive decrease due to the Black Death and later outbreaks
- BA steady increase due to better farming
- CNo change at all
- DA small decrease of about 1%
25.Which of these was a consequence of the Black Death for the Church in England?
Medium
- AA shortage of priests because so many had died
- BThe Pope moved to England
- CThe Church became richer than ever
- DThe Church banned all religious services
26.What was the main crop grown in England before the Black Death?
Medium
- AWheat
- BRice
- CMaize
- DCotton
27.Which of these was a long-term effect of the Black Death on the English countryside?
Medium
- AMany villages were abandoned as populations fell
- BMore land was brought under the plough
- CThe number of peasants increased
- DWool exports stopped completely
28.What was the main demand of the peasants in the Peasants' Revolt?
Medium
- AAn end to serfdom and the poll tax
- BHigher taxes for the rich
- CA new king
- DMore land for the nobles
29.Who was the leader of the Peasants' Revolt?
Medium
- AWat Tyler
- BRichard II
- CEdward III
- DJohn Ball
30.What happened to Wat Tyler at the end of the Peasants' Revolt?
Medium
- AHe was killed
- BHe was made a lord
- CHe became king
- DHe fled to France
31.What was the poll tax?
Medium
- AA tax on every person
- BA tax on wool
- CA tax on land
- DA tax on windows
32.Which of these was a cause of the Peasants' Revolt?
Medium
- AThe poll tax
- BThe Battle of Crécy
- CThe Great Famine
- DThe signing of Magna Carta
33.What was the main reason the peasants were angry about wages after the Black Death?
Medium
- ALandowners tried to keep wages low despite the labour shortage
- BWages were too high and caused inflation
- CThe king had banned all wages
- DPeasants were not allowed to work for wages
34.Which of these best describes the impact of the Black Death on the feudal system?
Medium
- AIt weakened the system and eventually helped end serfdom
- BIt strengthened the system by making lords more powerful
- CIt had no impact on the system
- DIt immediately abolished the system in 1348
35.What was the main source of wealth for England in the 14th century?
Medium
- AWool trade
- BGold mines
- CFishing
- DWine trade
36.Which of these was a consequence of the Black Death for the Hundred Years' War?
Medium
- ACampaigns were halted
- BEngland won the war
- CFrance invaded England
- DThe war ended in 1348
37.What was the name given to the swellings caused by bubonic plague?
Medium
- ABuboes
- BBoils
- CBlisters
- DRashes
38.Which of these correctly describes the order of events in the Black Death's arrival in England?
Medium
- AArrival at Weymouth → spread to London → spread to whole country
- BArrival at London → spread to Weymouth → spread to whole country
- CArrival at York → spread to London → spread to Weymouth
- DArrival at Norwich → spread to York → spread to London
39.What was the main belief about the cause of the Black Death at the time?
Medium
- AIt was a punishment from God
- BIt was caused by bacteria
- CIt was caused by fleas on rats
- DIt was caused by bad air from marshes
40.Which of these was a consequence of the Black Death for the English economy?
Medium
- AWages rose because of the labour shortage
- BPrices fell because there were fewer people
- CThe wool trade ended
- DThe king banned all trade

Ghi chú ôn tập

## The Black Death and the Peasants' Revolt ### The Black Death arrives (1348) - **Bubonic plague pandemic**, caused by **Yersinia pestis** bacteria. - Spread by **flea-infected rats**; the Oriental rat flea was the primary vector. Also spread person to person. - Originating in Asia, it travelled west along trade routes and reached England from **Gascony**. - First known case: a seaman arriving at **Weymouth, Dorset**, in **June 1348**. By autumn it reached London; by summer 1349 it covered the whole country; it died down by December. - The name **"Black Death"** was not used until the late 17th century; contemporaries said **"Great Pestilence"** or **"Great Mortality"**. ### Symptoms and types - Flea bites carry bacteria into the **lymphatic system**; bacteria multiply in the **lymph nodes**, forming swellings called **buboes** — hence *bubonic* plague. - After 3–4 days bacteria enter the **bloodstream**, infecting organs such as the **spleen** and **lungs**; the patient normally dies after a few days. - **Pneumonic plague**: bacteria become airborne and enter the lungs; far more virulent, spreading directly person to person. - **Septicaemic plague**: flea bite carries bacteria straight into the blood; death occurs very rapidly. ### Impact on population - England's population before 1348: estimates range from **3 to 7 million**; around **6 million** seems plausible. About **90%** lived in the countryside. - London had perhaps **70,000** people; Norwich around **12,000**; York around **10,000**. - Mortality: **40–60% of the population** is widely accepted. - The plague returned in **1361–1362**, killing around **20%** of the population, then returned intermittently through the 14th and 15th centuries. One of the last outbreaks was the **Great Plague of London, 1665–1666**. ### Consequences - Immediate: a halt to the campaigns of the **Hundred Years' War**. - Long term: population decrease caused a **shortage of labour**, with a subsequent **rise in wages**, resisted by landowners — causing deep resentment among the lower classes. - The **Peasants' Revolt of 1381** was largely a result of this resentment. Leaders included **Wat Tyler**; the young king was **Richard II**. - The rebellion was suppressed, but in the long term **serfdom was ended in England** — the **decline of feudalism**. - The Black Death also affected artistic and cultural efforts and may have helped advance the use of the **vernacular**. ### Key legislation and taxes - **Statute of Labourers**: tried to keep wages down after the labour shortage. - **Poll tax**: a tax on individuals that helped trigger the Peasants' Revolt of 1381.

Black Death: The first and most severe outbreak of the second plague pandemic, reaching England in June 1348; the name was not used until the late 17th century.
Yersinia pestis: The bacteria that cause plague.
Bubonic plague: The form of plague in which bacteria multiply in the lymph nodes, forming swellings called buboes.
Buboes: Painful swellings in the lymph nodes caused by bubonic plague.
Pneumonic plague: A strain in which bacteria become airborne and enter the lungs; far more virulent as it spreads directly from person to person.
Septicaemic plague: A rarer strain in which the flea bite carries bacteria directly into the bloodstream, causing death very rapidly.
Statute of Labourers: A law that tried to resist the rise in wages caused by the labour shortage after the Black Death.
Poll tax: A tax on individuals that contributed to the outbreak of the Peasants' Revolt of 1381.
Peasants' Revolt (1381): A rebellion largely caused by resentment at landowners resisting higher wages; it was suppressed, but in the long term serfdom ended in England.
Wat Tyler: A leader of the Peasants' Revolt of 1381.
Richard II: The king during the Peasants' Revolt of 1381.
Feudalism: The medieval system of land and service that declined in England after the Black Death and the Peasants' Revolt.

Thẻ ghi nhớ

When did the Black Death reach England?

It reached England in June 1348.

What caused the Black Death?

It was caused by Yersinia pestis bacteria.

How was the Black Death spread?

It was spread by flea-infected rats and by infected people arriving from the continent.

What were the three types of plague?

Bubonic, pneumonic and septicaemic plague.

What are buboes?

Buboes are the swellings that form in the lymph nodes of people with bubonic plague.

Which strain of plague is most virulent and spreads directly from person to person?

Pneumonic plague.

What proportion of the English population died in the Black Death?

A widely accepted figure is 40–60% of the population.

When did the plague return to England after the Black Death, and how many died?

It returned in 1361–1362 and killed around 20% of the population.

What was the Statute of Labourers?

A law that tried to keep wages down and force labourers to work for the same pay as before the Black Death.

Why did the Statute of Labourers cause resentment?

It stopped labourers from taking advantage of the labour shortage to earn higher wages.

What was the poll tax?

A tax that was levied on every person, which helped trigger the Peasants' Revolt.

When did the Peasants' Revolt take place?

In 1381.

Who was Wat Tyler?

He was a leader of the Peasants' Revolt.

Which king faced the Peasants' Revolt?

Richard II.

What was the main cause of the Peasants' Revolt?

It was largely a result of resentment among the lower classes over the labour shortage, rising wages resisted by landowners, and the poll tax.

What was the long-term effect of the Black Death on feudalism?

In the long term, serfdom was ended in England.

What was the most immediate consequence of the Black Death on the Hundred Years' War?

It halted the campaigns of the Hundred Years' War.

How did the Black Death affect wages and labour?

The decrease in population caused a shortage of labour, which led to a rise in wages.

What was the main export and source of England's wealth in the mid-14th century?

Wool.

What was the population of England on the eve of the Black Death?

Estimates range from 3 to 7 million, with around 6 million being plausible.

What proportion of the population lived in the countryside?

Close to 90 per cent.

What was the largest city in England at the time of the Black Death?

London, with perhaps as many as 70,000 inhabitants.

When was the Great Plague of London?

1665–1666.

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