Reactions to the Black Death

1. Reactions to the Black Death

2. Spread of the Disease in Europe

3. Bubonic Plague Symptoms as show by
medieval people

4. Doctors attempting to purify the air
People did not know what caused it or how to cure it.

5. Burying the
Dead
The quick
spread of the
disease,
overwhelmed
the system or
resulted in
mass burials

6. • And mass grave sites

7. Processions – in other words, large gatherings of
people…. To whom the disease could easily spread.
Because people didn’t know what had caused the disease,
many believed it was a punishment from God and sought
ways to appease God.

8. Flagellants
• other groups marched
while beating themselves
as a means of punishment

9. Virgin Mary
• protecting citizens
• Others prayed, primarily to
Mary, who they believed
would shelter them from
the disease.

10. Triumph of Death
• Attitudes about
death change
• Could happen
to anyone
• at any time

11. Detail from “Triumph of Death”