The reaction of the population
Activity
Read the text carefully
Because the devastation of the Black Death was outside their comprehension, people accepted unquestioningly the doctrine of the Pope and the Church that the visitation was God's punishment for their manifold sins. This unhelpful doctrine prevailed for the next 300 years and beyond.
Throughout Europe, Jews along with lepers and other minorities became scapegoats for the devastation of the plague. Thousands were burned alive in retaliation.
Those who survived the Black Death believed that there was something
special about them – almost as if God had protected them. Therefore,
they took the opportunity offered by the disease to improve their
lifestyle.
VocabularyThe word 'visitation' here means:
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the appearance of a divine or supernatural being.
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an official visit of inspection by a bishop.
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a disaster or difficulty regarded as a divine punishment.
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Now do the true/false exerciseBecause of their ignorance people couldn't understand the causes and effects of the disease.
True False
Jews were burned alive because they were infected.
True False
Those who were not infected by the pestilence didn't take advantage of the situation.
True False