Theories About the Causes of Black Death

The Black Death, which swept through Europe in the late Middle Ages, had several theories regarding its causes. The most accepted is the spread of the bacterium *Yersinia pestis*, carried by fleas on rats. Poor hygiene and crowded living conditions helped it spread quickly. Other theories included "miasma," the idea that bad air caused disease, and divine punishment, where people believed the plague was a punishment from God. Social and economic factors, such as trade routes and population density, also played a role in how rapidly the disease spread, contributing to the catastrophic death toll.