The History of the Black Death

The Black Death was a devastating pandemic of the bubonic plague that struck Europe in the 14th century, beginning around 1347. It was caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, spread mainly through fleas that infested rats. As the disease spread rapidly among populations, it caused widespread death, killing an estimated one-third to half of Europe's people. The pandemic drastically affected society, economy, and culture, leading to social upheaval and changes in European history. The Black Death eventually declined by the late 1350s, but its impacts resonated for centuries.