name 6 facts about black death
1. The Black Death was one of the deadliest pandemics in human history, killing an estimated 75-200 million people in Eurasia (Europe and Asia) between 1347 and 1351.
2. The primary cause of the Black Death was the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which is transmitted through fleas that infest rats. When an infected flea bites a human, it can transmit the bacteria and cause the plague.
3. The Black Death had different forms: Bubonic plague caused swelling and black discoloration of lymph nodes (known as "buboes"), septicemic plague affected the bloodstream, and pneumonic plague attacked the lungs. Though all forms were deadly, the pneumonic plague was the most contagious, spreading through respiratory droplets.
4. The pandemic originated in Asia and spread rapidly along trade routes. It reached Europe in 1347 when the bacterium arrived in the port city of Genoa, Italy, on ships from the Black Sea. From there, the plague spread throughout Europe and eventually into North Africa.
5. The massive death toll from the Black Death had significant social, economic, and religious impacts. The shortage of labor led to a rise in wages for surviving workers and contributed to the end of the feudal system in Europe. Many people lost faith in the Church due to its inability to stop the plague, leading to the rise of new religious sects and a decline in the power of the Catholic Church.
6. Black Death survivors developed some immunity to Yersinia pestis, reducing subsequent outbreaks' severity. The last widespread outbreak of the plague in Europe occurred in the 17th century. However, smaller outbreaks still occur around the world today, but can be treated using modern antibiotics.