How did the bubonic plague affect Elizabethan England?
How did the bubonic plague affect Elizabethan England?
Plague laid waste to England and especially to the capital repeatedly during Shakespeare’s professional life — in 1592, again in 1603, and in 1606 and 1609. Whenever deaths from the disease exceeded thirty per week, the London authorities closed the playhouses.
What was the Black Death in the Elizabethan Era?
The Black Death was a bubonic plague pandemic, which reached England in June 1348. It was the first and most severe manifestation of the second pandemic, caused by Yersinia pestis bacteria. The term Black Death was not used until the late 17th century.
How was the bubonic plague treated in Elizabethan Era?
The Elizabethans had no idea that the plague was spread by fleas that had lived on rats; though there were many “cures” for the plague, the only real defense–for those who could afford it–was to leave the crowded, rat-infested cities for the country.
What stopped the bubonic plague in London?
the Great Fire of London
In 1666 the Great Fire of London destroyed much of the centre of London, but also helped to kill off some of the black rats and fleas that carried the plague bacillus. Bubonic Plague was known as the Black Death and had been known in England for centuries.
How did the Black Death affect Elizabethan England during the 1590s?
Plague spread south and north in England’s countryside in the early 1590s, contaminating reservoirs of rodents around farms and towns until eventually reaching London in the summer of 1592.
How did the plague affect Shakespeare?
The plague closed London’s playhouses and forced Shakespeare’s acting company, the King’s Men, to get creative about performances. As they traveled the English countryside, stopping in rural towns that had not been stricken by the plague, Shakespeare felt that writing was a better use of his time.
When did the Black Plague start Elizabethan England?
1592–1593 London plague
| Map of London in 1576 | |
|---|---|
| Date | August 1592 – December 1593, with cases until 1595 |
| Location | London, Kingdom of England |
| Type | Outbreak part of the ongoing second plague pandemic since the 14th century |
| Cause | Yersinia pestis |
How did the bubonic plague affect London in 1599?
The Great Plague killed an estimated 100,000 people—almost a quarter of London’s population—in 18 months. It became known afterwards as the “great” plague mainly because it was the last widespread outbreak of bubonic plague in England during the 400-year Second Pandemic.
How did Elizabethans view death?
Suicide was a sensitive matter in Elizabethan times. During that period both the church and the state took a strict view on suicide, regarding it as a mortal sin, which was linked to deep despair and demonic pride. The word ‘suicide’ only appeared in the English language long after Shakespeare’s death.
What caused the Great Plague in London?
‘ The plague was actually caused by infected fleas carried by black rats, although this would not be known for centuries to come. Rats were particularly prevalent in the cramped and dirty streets of the capital occupied by the poorest residents.
What was London like during the plague?
The death rate began to rise during the hot summer months and peaked in September when 7,165 Londoners died in one week. Rats carried the fleas that caused the plague. They were attracted by city streets filled with rubbish and waste, especially in the poorest areas.
What did Elizabeth do during the plague?
Elizabeth began coordinating a government response to the epidemic by communicating orders to her people through the Church. Churchwardens and curates were instructed to tell parishioners staying with those sick with plague not to come to church until several weeks after they recover.
What was the cure for the Black Plague?
Rubbing onions,herbs or a chopped up snake (if available) on the boils or cutting up a pigeon and rubbing it over an infected body.
How many people died from Black Plague?
How many people died because of the Black Death? In Europe, it is thought that around 50 million people died as a result of the Black Death over the course of three or four years. The population was reduced from some 80 million to 30 million. It killed at least 60 per cent of the population in rural and urban areas.
What was the death rate of the Black Plague?
The bubonic plague was the most commonly seen form during the Black Death, with a mortality rate of 30-75% and symptoms including fever of 38 – 41 °C (101-105 °F), headaches, painful aching joints, nausea and vomiting, and a general feeling of malaise. Of those who contracted the bubonic plague, 4 out of 5 died within eight days.
What are facts about the Black Plague?
Interesting Black Death Facts: 1-10. 1. Black Death was a plague epidemic that swept across Europe between 1348 and 1353, killing nearly 25 to 60% of the entire population of Europe. Some historians however claim that the plague wiped out nearly 2/3rd of the entire European population. 2.