Uploaded February 2021 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
Black Death
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For other uses, see Black Death (disambiguation).
Black Death
Spread of the Black Death in Europe and the Near East (1346–1353)
Spread of the Black Death in Europe and the Near East (1346–1353)
Disease Bubonic plague
Location Eurasia, North Africa
Date 1346–1353
Deaths 75,000,000 – 200,000,000 (estimate)
The Black Death (also known as the Pestilence, the Great Mortality, or the Plague)[a] was a bubonic plague pandemic occurring in Afro-Eurasia from 1346-53. It is the most fatal pandemic recorded in human history, resulting in the deaths of up to 75–200 million[1] people in Eurasia and North Africa,[2] peaking in Europe from 1347 to 1351. Bubonic plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis,[3] but it may also cause septicaemic or pneumonic plagues.[4]
The Black Death was the beginning of the second plague pandemic.[5] The plague created religious, social, and economic upheavals, with profound effects on the course of European history.
The Black Death's territorial origins are disputed. The pandemic originated either in Central Asia or East Asia,[6] but its first definitive appearance was in Crimea in 1347. From there, it was most likely carried by fleas living on the black rats that travelled on Genoese merchant ships, spreading throughout the Mediterranean Basin and reaching Africa, Western Asia, and the rest of Europe via Constantinople, Sicily, and the Italian Peninsula. Current evidence indicates that once it came onshore, the Black Death was in large part spread by human fleas – which cause pneumonic plague – and the person-to-person contact via aerosols which pneumonic plague enables, thus explaining the very fast inland spread of the epidemic, which was faster than would be expected if the primary vector was rat fleas causing bubonic plague.[7]
The Black Death was the second disaster affecting Europe during the Late Middle Ages (the first one being the Great Famine of 1315–1317)[8] and is estimated to have killed 30% to 60% of Europe's population.[9][10] In total, the plague may have reduced the world population from an estimated 475 million to 350–375 million in the 14th century.[11] There were further outbreaks throughout the Late Middle Ages, and with other contributing factors[b] it took until 1500 for the European population to regain the levels of 1300.[12] Outbreaks of the plague recurred at various locations around the world until the early 19th century.
Black Death
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigationJump to search
For other uses, see Black Death (disambiguation).
Black Death
Spread of the Black Death in Europe and the Near East (1346–1353)
Spread of the Black Death in Europe and the Near East (1346–1353)
Disease Bubonic plague
Location Eurasia, North Africa
Date 1346–1353
Deaths 75,000,000 – 200,000,000 (estimate)
The Black Death (also known as the Pestilence, the Great Mortality, or the Plague)[a] was a bubonic plague pandemic occurring in Afro-Eurasia from 1346-53. It is the most fatal pandemic recorded in human history, resulting in the deaths of up to 75–200 million[1] people in Eurasia and North Africa,[2] peaking in Europe from 1347 to 1351. Bubonic plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis,[3] but it may also cause septicaemic or pneumonic plagues.[4]
The Black Death was the beginning of the second plague pandemic.[5] The plague created religious, social, and economic upheavals, with profound effects on the course of European history.
The Black Death's territorial origins are disputed. The pandemic originated either in Central Asia or East Asia,[6] but its first definitive appearance was in Crimea in 1347. From there, it was most likely carried by fleas living on the black rats that travelled on Genoese merchant ships, spreading throughout the Mediterranean Basin and reaching Africa, Western Asia, and the rest of Europe via Constantinople, Sicily, and the Italian Peninsula. Current evidence indicates that once it came onshore, the Black Death was in large part spread by human fleas – which cause pneumonic plague – and the person-to-person contact via aerosols which pneumonic plague enables, thus explaining the very fast inland spread of the epidemic, which was faster than would be expected if the primary vector was rat fleas causing bubonic plague.[7]
The Black Death was the second disaster affecting Europe during the Late Middle Ages (the first one being the Great Famine of 1315–1317)[8] and is estimated to have killed 30% to 60% of Europe's population.[9][10] In total, the plague may have reduced the world population from an estimated 475 million to 350–375 million in the 14th century.[11] There were further outbreaks throughout the Late Middle Ages, and with other contributing factors[b] it took until 1500 for the European population to regain the levels of 1300.[12] Outbreaks of the plague recurred at various locations around the world until the early 19th century.
