The Great Plague in London, 1665 Flashcards

All 7 cards in this deck

What did people in 1665 think caused the Great Plague in London?

Divine action, miasma or astrological influences — the real cause was unknown.

Why were barrels of tar burned in London's streets in 1665?

To purify the air, because people believed the plague was caused by miasma.

What did the Lord Mayor of London order to stop people gathering during the Great Plague?

Theatres were closed (and large gatherings such as fairs banned).

What did the Lord Mayor order to be done to London's streets in 1665?

Rubbish was to be removed, as an attempt to purify the air and stop the plague spreading.

What happened to houses in London where someone caught the plague in 1665?

They were shut up and quarantined for 28 days, marked with a red cross, with a watchman on guard.

True or false? During the Great Plague of 1665 the authorities ordered cats and dogs in London to be killed.

True. People thought the animals might carry or spread the disease.

What was done with the bodies of plague victims in London in 1665?

Dead carts took them away and they were buried together in large plague pits rather than in individual graves.