Medicine Through TimeKey Facts
Comparing Black Death (1348) and Great Plague (1665)
Part of The Great Plague — GCSE History
This key facts covers Comparing Black Death (1348) and Great Plague (1665) within The Great Plague for GCSE History. Revise The Great Plague in Medicine Through Time for GCSE History with 8 exam-style questions and 5 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 2 of 10 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 2 of 10
Practice
8 questions
Recall
5 flashcards
📊 Comparing Black Death (1348) and Great Plague (1665)
| Aspect | Black Death 1348 | Great Plague 1665 | Change? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Believed Causes | Miasma, God, planets, humours | Miasma, God, planets, humours | NO CHANGE |
| Treatments | Bleeding, purging, theriac, prayer | Bleeding, purging, theriac, prayer | NO CHANGE |
| Prevention | Carry flowers, burn herbs | Carry flowers, burn herbs, fires in streets | MINOR |
| Government Action | Limited; some quarantine | Organised: Bills of Mortality, quarantine laws, searchers | IMPROVED |
| Death Toll | ~2 million (30-50% of England) | ~100,000 in London (15-20% of city) | Lower % but still devastating |