Seeking a Cause for the Black

Death

This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND.

 • Most of medieval society was
Christian.
• Jews were a minority.
• Jews were often looked down
Persecution upon because they were seen
as different and were blamed
of the Jews of Jesus Christ's crucifixion.
• The suffering caused by the
Black Death meant people
looked to blame others, the
Jews were targeted.
Persecution of the
Jews
• Massacres of Jews started in Spring and Summer of 1348 in
France.
• Some Jews were tortured into confessing that they
deliberately caused the Black Death.
• In the Town of Basel, Switzerland, all of the Jews were
rounded up and burned alive.
 The Flagellants
• The flagellants were groups of radical Christians who roamed
through Europe, wearing red crosses on their clothing.
• In groups of 300 people led by a master, the flagellants went
through cities and towns and whip themselves with a
spiked whip until they drew blood. They did this to gain
forgiveness for their sins and ask God to stop the Black Death.
• They believed the Jews caused the Black Death and initiated
many attacks.
 The Sinners
• Some were so upset by the plague they felt that God had
abandoned them.
• Some people gave up religion and acted without moral
guidance.
• Drinking all day, laughing, singing and dancing to take their
minds off their fear.