Which groups of people were blamed for the plague and how were they treated?

Answer 1

In many parts of Europe the arrival of the Black Death was blamed on Jews (because Jews were popularly blamed for the Crucifixion, even though the Romans crucified Jesus). Jews were regularly driven out of their houses and forced to move to different areas, and in some cases they might even be hanged, stoned, or even burned to death.

The general anti-Semitism of medieval European culture was mainly to blame for this. But in some cases it is clear that local anti-semitic feeling was whipped up by lords who had borrowed money from Jewish families and didn't want to repay their debts. (In medieval Europe Jews formed the backbone of the financial system, since there were strict religious controls on Christian moneylending).

Jewish pogroms were less of a problem in England. King Edward I had excluded all Jews from his country in 1290, and they would not be back in numbers until the time of Oliver Cromwell (1660's). But anti-Jewish feeling was as bad in England as in countries where Jews actually lived - as we can see from Chaucer's Nun's Tale, and Christopher Marlowe's The Jew of Malta.

---- Another group which was blamed for the Black Death was 'sinners'. (Since the plague was seen as a punishment from God). Groups of flagellants (deeply religious people who walk through towns whipping themselves to show their true repentance) moved from city to city, usually carrying the infection with them. In many cases the flagellants were responsible for some of the worst atrocities against Jews.

The flagellant movement was immensely popular during the fourteenth century (flagellants are often highly praised by contemporary religious writers) but was yet another case of the Church trying to help and making matters far worse.