The primary cause for the major drop in the English population beginning in 1350 was the outbreak of the Black Death, also known as the bubonic plague. The Black Death was a highly contagious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which spread through fleas that infested black rats. This pandemic had a devastating impact on the population, causing widespread death and reducing the population by an estimated 30-50%. The Black Death continued to affect England and other parts of Europe for several years, leading to significant social, economic, and demographic changes.
