a person in the medieval period who worked the land and had few legal protections

an act of direct resistance against a leader or government

the social system of medieval England, with peasants, lords and the king in a strict hierarchy

a swelling of the lymph nodes and a symptom of the plague

The impact of the Black Death on England

History

In this unit, pupils considered how a range of political, economic and social factors made the lives of peasants difficult in medieval England. In 'Life in Tudor England: was there a 'Golden Age' for the poor?', pupils will extend their knowledge of the lives of those who made up the majority of England's population by assessing the quality of life of the poor by the late-16th century.

In 'The Black Death and the Silk Road: how connected was the medieval world?', pupils studied some of the key consequences of the Black Death. In this unit, pupils will explain how those consequences contributed to the social and economic tensions which triggered the Peasants' Revolt in England.

In this unit, pupils learn about the differing interpretations that exist regarding the causes of the Peasants' Revolt. They will examine the impact of the Black Death on England alongside the short-term causes of the uprising.

The Peasants' Revolt: why do historians disagree about its causes?

Depiction of scary, confusing or unsettling events or characters placed in danger, including creation of a scary atmosphere through the use of music and sound.

Depiction or discussion of upsetting content

Depiction or discussion of famine, disease, natural disasters.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Depiction of war, threats of war, death or the aftermath of war.

Depiction or discussion of violence or fighting, including threats of violence or the aftermath of violence.

In which year did the Peasants' Revolt take place?

In which year did the Black Death first reach England?

between a quarter and a third of the population

between a third and and half of the population

between a half and two-thirds of the population

between two-thirds and three-quarters of the population

How many people do historians think died of the Black Death in the first year it affected England?

Which of the following were most likely to be targets of the Peasants' Revolt?

Swellings began to grow in the groin, armpits and neck.

The swellings then grew to the size of an apple.

The infected person began to feel feverish.

The infected person began to vomit blood.

If the swellings did not burst, death inevitably followed.

Put these symptoms of the Black Death in the order in which they appeared.

First point of entry of the Black Death into England

Last place in England to report infections from the Black Death

Place where the most people died of Black Death as a proportion of population

Nobody in this settlement died of the Black Death

Why is Melcombe famous in relation to the Black Death?

poor, few possessions, grew food to feed themselves and their families

poor, some possessions, worked in towns as servants

rich, many possessions, owned land in the countryside

rich, many possessions, owned many houses in a town or city

Which of these do you think best describes a peasant?

Peasants were at the bottom of a social hierarchy known as feudalism or the {{ }} system.

Put these rulers of England in chronological order. They did not all succeed each other: there is usually a big gap between their rules.

What three-letter word means money that individuals pay to the government, which then uses it to fund its spending?

Historians often consider different factors in their explanations and interpretations. Which of these would be about the decisions and policies of a government or ruler?

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of upsetting content

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Depiction or discussion of serious crime

Adult supervision required

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

The impact of the Black Death on England

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.