BLACK DEATH

Black Death (Black Plague)

The black death was the worst natural disaster in our worlds history. It killed around 75 million people worldwide in less than 5 years (1347-1352). Medieval Europe was the hardest hit, about one third of the population was killed.

It began in Asia and moved to Europe in the late 1340's in what is know as the dark ages. It's believed that people aboard ships from China to Europe carried the plague. Once they got to Europe the disease spread from person to person very quickly.

The disease was described as having buboes (swelling of the lymph nodes), which is consistent with the bubonic plague. It was caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and was spread by the oriental rat flea. Other symptoms were high fever, aching joints, nausea, vomiting, and spots on the skin that turned black (which is where the name black death came from). The mortality was nearly 100% for those infected. The symptoms appeared on the second or third day. Most people died within three to four days.

People died so fast that they had to dig mass graves. Houses were burnt to the ground with bodies in them (some still alive). Corpses were left laying on the streets. These poor conditions only led to the disease spreading even further. Those who handled the bodies did not protect themselves and would get the disease themselves.