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Quizzes > History

Black Plague Questions: Test Yourself on the Black Death

Quick, free bubonic plague quiz with instant results and brief facts.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Sam BrewsterUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration plague doctor mask and rat skull on teal background for bubonic plague quiz challenge

This Black Death quiz helps you check what you know about the medieval plague-how it spread, key events, and its impact on Europe. Finish in minutes, see instant results, and pick up simple facts along the way; if you want more, try our medieval history quiz or explore renaissance trivia questions.

Which bacterium was responsible for causing the Black Death in the 14th century?
Yersinia pestis
Vibrio cholerae
Bacillus anthracis
Salmonella enterica
Yersinia pestis is the causative agent of the bubonic plague, including the Black Death of the 14th century. Modern genetic analysis of victims' remains has confirmed the presence of Y. pestis DNA in plague graves. This bacterium primarily infects the lymphatic system and is transmitted by fleas.
In which century did the Black Death pandemic occur in Europe?
16th century
12th century
18th century
14th century
The Black Death struck Europe between 1347 and 1351, placing it squarely in the middle of the 14th century. It killed an estimated one-third of Europe's population. The pandemic reshaped European society, economy, and culture for decades.
Which of the following vectors primarily transmitted the bubonic plague during the Black Death?
Fleas on rats
Houseflies
Mosquitoes
Ticks
The bubonic plague was primarily spread by the bite of infected fleas that lived on black rats. When a rat died, fleas would seek other hosts, including humans. This vector-based transmission explains the rapid spread along trade routes.
Which Sicilian port city was one of the first in Europe to report cases of the Black Death?
Palermo
Syracuse
Messina
Catania
The Black Death first reached Europe in 1347, landing in the port of Messina in Sicily aboard trading ships. From there it spread rapidly across the continent. The arrival in Messina marked the start of the European pandemic.
What was the characteristic swollen lymph node called that appeared in victims of the bubonic plague?
Carbuncles
Papules
Nodules
Buboes
Buboes are the painful, swollen lymph nodes that are a hallmark symptom of bubonic plague. They typically developed in the groin, neck, or armpits. The presence of buboes distinguishes bubonic from other forms of plague.
How did people in medieval Europe commonly refer to the bubonic plague of 1347 - 1351?
The Black Death
The Dark Sickness
The Great Illness
The Red Death
Medieval Europeans dubbed the pandemic 'The Black Death,' likely referring to the dark blotches appearing on the skin of victims and the catastrophic mortality. The term underscores the fear and destructiveness of the disease. It remains the most common name for the 14th-century pandemic.
Which animal served as the primary reservoir for the plague-carrying fleas?
Dogs
Cats
Black rats
Pigeons
Black rats (Rattus rattus) were the primary reservoir host for the fleas that transmitted Yersinia pestis to humans. The dense rat populations in medieval towns facilitated rapid spread. Controlling rat infestations was not possible at the time, allowing the disease to proliferate.
Which of the following was NOT a preventive measure used during the Black Death?
Wearing beaked plague masks
Burning aromatic herbs
Quarantining arriving ships
Vaccination against Y. pestis
Vaccination against Y. pestis did not exist during the 14th century; the first plague vaccines were developed in the late 19th century. Medieval measures included burning herbs, quarantining ships for periods like 40 days, and plague doctors wearing beaked masks filled with aromatic substances.
What was the approximate mortality rate in Europe during the Black Death?
20 - 30%
30 - 60%
75 - 90%
5 - 10%
Historical estimates place the mortality rate of the Black Death in Europe between 30% and 60% of the population. Some regions experienced even higher death tolls. The exact figure varies by location and quality of records.
Which of the following was a major economic impact of the Black Death in Europe?
Increased serfdom
Decline in wages
Overpopulation
Labor shortages leading to higher wages
The massive death toll created labor shortages, which in turn drove up wages and living standards for surviving workers. Landowners faced difficulty finding labor and were compelled to offer better terms. This shift contributed to social and economic transformations in late medieval Europe.
What was the typical incubation period for the bubonic plague from infection to symptom onset?
2 - 6 hours
1 - 3 hours
2 - 6 weeks
2 - 6 days
The incubation period for bubonic plague is generally two to six days. During this time, the bacterium multiplies in the lymphatic system before producing symptoms like fever and swollen lymph nodes. This relatively short period allowed for rapid spread along trade routes.
Which minority group was scapegoated and persecuted during the Black Death due to baseless accusations of well poisoning?
Pilgrims
Merchants
Jews
Physicians
During the Black Death, Jews were falsely accused of poisoning wells and causing the plague. This led to violent pogroms and massacres across Europe. Modern historians agree these accusations were unfounded.
Which Asian region is believed to be the origin of the Black Death pandemic?
India
Western Europe
Central Asia
Southeast Asia
The Black Death is thought to have originated in Central Asia, where Yersinia pestis was endemic in rodent populations. It spread along the Silk Road and via Mongol armies before reaching Europe. Genetic and historical evidence supports a Central Asian origin.
What was a common medieval belief about the cause of the Black Death?
Bacterial infection
Punishment from God
Genetic inheritance
Contaminated water alone
Many medieval Europeans believed the plague was divine punishment for sins. This interpretation led to penitential practices such as flagellant processions. The true bacterial cause would not be understood until much later.
Which later form of plague, affecting the lungs, could spread directly from person to person?
Meningococcal plague
Bubonic plague
Septicemic plague
Pneumonic plague
Pneumonic plague occurs when Yersinia pestis infects the lungs, allowing transmission via respiratory droplets. This form can spread directly between people without flea vectors. Pneumonic plague is highly fatal if untreated.
Which medical theory did medieval physicians rely upon to explain and treat illnesses like the plague?
Cell theory
Quantum theory
Humoral theory
Germ theory
Medieval medicine was dominated by humoral theory, which posited that health depended on the balance of four bodily humors. Treatments sought to restore this balance through methods like bloodletting. Germ theory would not emerge until the 19th century.
The mutation CCR5-?32 is thought to have provided resistance to the plague among European populations by altering which?
Chemokine receptor
Antibody production
Platelet function
Red blood cells
The CCR5-?32 mutation affects a chemokine receptor, which can reduce the ability of certain pathogens, including Yersinia pestis, to enter cells. This mutation is rare outside Europe and may have been selected for during plague pandemics. Research continues on its protective role.
Which literary work, set during the Black Death, was written by Giovanni Boccaccio?
The Canterbury Tales
The Prince
The Divine Comedy
The Decameron
Giovanni Boccaccio's The Decameron (1353) is framed by a group of young people fleeing plague-ravaged Florence. Its tales provide insight into medieval life and the social impact of the Black Death. The work remains a key historical and literary source.
The term "quarantine" originates from the Italian word for which number of days?
Sixty
Forty
Thirty
Fifty
Quarantine comes from 'quaranta giorni,' Italian for 'forty days.' In 1377, the Republic of Ragusa required ships to anchor for forty days before landing. This practice aimed to prevent plague introduction. The term entered many languages from this policy.
What scientific method did modern researchers use to confirm the presence of Yersinia pestis in medieval plague victims?
Radiocarbon dating
Stable isotope analysis
Dendrochronology
Ancient DNA analysis
Ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis has been used to detect Yersinia pestis genetic material in the dental pulp of plague victims. This molecular evidence confirms the bacterium's role in historical epidemics. It represents a key advance in paleomicrobiology.
Yersinia pestis is classified as which type of bacterium based on its shape and Gram stain?
Gram-positive cocci
Acid-fast bacilli
Gram-negative coccobacilli
Spirochetes
Yersinia pestis is a Gram-negative coccobacillus, meaning it has a short rod shape and does not retain the crystal violet stain in Gram staining. This classification helps microbiologists identify and treat the bacterium. Its cell wall structure is typical of many enteric pathogens.
Besides rat fleas, which other ectoparasite is believed to have contributed to plague transmission?
Mosquitoes
Ticks
Body lice
Tsetse flies
Evidence suggests that human body lice (Pediculus humanus corporis) could also transmit Yersinia pestis, especially when rats were scarce. Lice may have acted as secondary vectors during certain outbreaks. This finding expands understanding of plague spread dynamics.
What is the form of plague called when Yersinia pestis enters the bloodstream directly without producing buboes?
Endemic plague
Pneumonic plague
Bubonic plague
Septicemic plague
Septicemic plague occurs when Yersinia pestis infects the bloodstream, causing widespread organ failure without necessarily forming buboes. It is often rapidly fatal if untreated. The lack of buboes distinguishes it from bubonic plague.
Which city-state implemented the first formal maritime quarantine in 1377 to prevent plague spread?
Florence
Ragusa
Venice
Genoa
In 1377, the Republic of Ragusa (modern Dubrovnik) enacted the first known formal maritime quarantine, requiring ships to remain offshore for 30 days, later extended to 40. This policy aimed to prevent plague entry via ports. It laid the groundwork for modern quarantine practices.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand the historical context of the Bubonic Plague -

    After engaging with the questions about black death, you'll grasp the timeline, origin, and spread of the 14th-century pandemic across medieval Europe.

  2. Identify plague transmission mechanisms -

    Through targeted black plague questions on vectors like fleas, rats, and human contact, you'll recall how Yersinia pestis moved rapidly between populations.

  3. Differentiate clinical symptoms of the Black Death -

    Answering questions about the plague will reinforce your knowledge of hallmark symptoms such as buboes, fever, and septicemia.

  4. Analyze societal and economic impacts -

    By tackling black death questions, you'll evaluate how the pandemic reshaped trade networks, labor structures, and daily life in medieval society.

  5. Assess modern reflections on historical pandemics -

    This series of plague questions helps you connect lessons from the Black Death to contemporary public health strategies and outbreak responses.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Etiology and Transmission of Yersinia pestis -

    The bacterium Yersinia pestis spreads primarily via rat fleas regurgitating infectious droplets into humans, following the mnemonic "Rat Flea Jump" (Rat - Flea - Host) to recall its cycle (CDC). Its estimated basic reproduction number (R0) in medieval towns ranged from 1.3 to 3.5, highlighting how quickly it could proliferate (Oxford Journal of Infectious Diseases).

  2. Clinical Presentation and Mortality Rates -

    The Black Death's classic triad - fever, painful buboes, and internal hemorrhaging - led to case-fatality rates between 30% and 60% in documented outbreaks (WHO archives). Remember the formula Mortality % = (deaths ÷ cases) × 100 to contextualize historical tallies (Harvard Medical School).

  3. Socioeconomic Consequences -

    Widespread mortality eliminated up to half of Europe's population, triggering acute labor shortages and driving wages upward by as much as 100% in some regions (University of Cambridge Economics). This seismic shift accelerated the decline of feudalism and seeded economic transformations that reshaped late medieval society.

  4. Early Public Health Responses and Quarantine -

    In 1377, the port of Ragusa instituted the first formal quarantine - forty days ("quaranta" in Italian) - reducing importation of plague by isolating ships (Journal of Medieval History). Similar cordon sanitaires and sanitary passports emerged across the Mediterranean, laying groundwork for modern disease control.

  5. Historical Legacy and Epidemiological Advances -

    The Black Death spurred systematic record-keeping of deaths, spawning early demographic studies in parish registers (Oxford Historical Demography). These data underpinned the development of statistical epidemiology, influencing methods still taught in public health programs today.

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