What was "The Black Death" ?

The bubonic plague which struck Asia and  Europe in 14th century and claimed millions of lives was history's most terrifying plague. It is also called "The Black Death".

Map of Black Death

This plague originated in Central Asia in 14th century. From there it spreaded in China, India, Arabian peninsula, Egypt, Byzantine Empire. Lastly it entered Europe and depopulated the whole continent.

The Black Death in Asia

Yersinia Pestis was a bacteria which was common in oriental rat fleas. That infected black rats and through those rats it spreaded everywhere. It mainly spreaded through trade and war. In Asia it spreaded via Silk Road. But in Europe it spreaded when Mongols besieged Kaffa in 1346. It was a port in black sea in Crimea. During siege plague struck in Mongol camp and the death rate was so high they had to abandon the siege. But before that they used catapult to throw corpses of plague victims inside the city wall. By this the water inside the city was polluted and plague struck the city as well. The Italian merchants and sailors inside the city ran in hurry to their ships and sailed for Italy. The  ships' cargo was already carrying plague infected black rats inside. So, when they reached Sicily, sailors of the infected ships were already started dying. The port authority quarantined the ships but it was too late because some of the rats already found their way to the shore. The plague first struck in Italian seaports and from there it spreaded inland. It spreaded like wildfire and within a year almost whole Europe was under it's grasp. It continued until 1353.

The Black Death in Europe

Death toll of this plague was highest in history. Atleast 140 million people died in Asia and Europe. It reduced almost one third of the whole population of these continents. It took almost two centuries to recover the population level to its former state.

The Black Death

Human history is full with these types of epidemics but this one was the most terrifying and became infamous as "The Black Death".