Exam 11: Crisis and Recovery in Late Medieval Europe, 1300-1500

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The Black Death refers to a devastating global epidemic of bubonic plague that struck Europe and Asia in the mid-14th century. The plague arrived in Europe in October 1347, when 12 ships from the Black Sea docked at the Sicilian port of Messina. People gathered on the docks were met with a horrifying surprise: most sailors aboard the ships were dead, and those still alive were gravely ill and covered in black boils that oozed blood and pus. This gruesome condition gave the event its name, as the "Black" in Black Death also refers to the darkened skin of some victims, caused by subdermal hemorrhages.

The plague was caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which is often transmitted through the bite of an infected rat flea. The Black Death was one of the most lethal pandemics in human history, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 75-200 million people in Eurasia, peaking in Europe from 1347 to 1351. Its spread was rapid, likely facilitated by fleas living on black rats that were regular passengers on merchant ships.

The impact of the Black Death was catastrophic, leading to widespread social, economic, and religious upheavals. With such a large proportion of the population dead, labor became scarce, which led to higher wages for workers and a decline in the prices of goods. This had a lasting impact on the structure of European society, contributing to the end of the feudal system. The psychological impact of the Black Death was also profound, as it challenged the foundations of medieval society, including the influence of the Church, which struggled to provide an explanation for the calamity.

The Black Death is a key event in the history of public health and epidemiology. It led to the establishment of measures to control the spread of infectious diseases, such as quarantines and the isolation of affected individuals, which are still in use today.