Page 53 - Exercise 1

Page 53 - Exercise 1

In 1348-49 a terrible disease broke out in Europe. People called it the Black Death. In two years, nearly half of Europe’s population - between 20 and 30 million people - died. The disease was bubonic plague. People who got it usually died in just three days.

Nobody knew what caused the plague. People thought that bad smells caused it, so they carried bunches of flowers to stop it.

Some people killed dogs and cats, because they thought they carried the disease. In fact, fleas carried the plague. The fleas lived on black rats. These rats arrived in southern Europe on ships from Asia.

The disease spread very quickly, especially in towns and cities.

Medieval towns were very different from today. Most of the buildings were made of wood or mud. Streets were narrow and dirty. People threw all their rubbish into the streets, and there were rats everywhere.

The plague continued to hit Europe until the end of the 17th century. One of the biggest outbreaks was the Great Plague of London. It started in 1665, during the hot months of August and September. In one week, 7,165 people died of the plague. The total number of deaths was about 70,000.

When somebody got the plague, everybody in the family had to stay in the house, and a red cross was painted on the door.

Neighbours brought food and water and left it outside. But the disease continued to spread. It only stopped when the cold weather came. Many people left London and went to stay in the country, because there was no plague there.

However, 1665 was the last time that the plague came to London. The next year, after another hot, dry summer, the Great Fire of London destroyed the old city with its dirty, narrow streets and wooden buildings. The new city was a much cleaner and safer place.