Black Death Dbq

Words: 165
Pages: 1

Topic sentence: The Black Death, a pandemic that ravaged Europe in the 14th century, was characterized by its swift and deadly spread, with gruesome symptoms that struck fear into the hearts of its victims.

Evidence: The disease, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, was primarily transmitted through the bites of infected fleas, which live on rats and other rodents. Once infected, victims exhibited symptoms such as high fever, vomiting, and painful swelling of the lymph nodes, or "buboes," in the groin, armpits, and neck.

Explanation: As the disease progressed, the buboes would turn black, fill with pus, and eventually burst, releasing a foul-smelling discharge. In addition to these gruesome symptoms, victims also suffered from severe