Black Death
Black Death
The Black Death (pronounced: /blæk dɛθ/), also known as the Pestilence and the Plague, was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 75-200 million people in Eurasia, peaking in Europe from 1347 to 1351.
Etymology
The term "Black Death" was not used until the 16th century, originating from the symptom of blackening skin caused by subepidermal hemorrhages. The contemporary term for the disease was the "Great Mortality" or the "Great Plague".
Symptoms
The symptoms of the Black Death included fever, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, terrible aches and pains, and then, in short order, death. The typical form of the disease (the Bubonic Plague) was characterized by the appearance of buboes (swollen, painful lymph nodes) in the groin or armpit.
Transmission
The Black Death is thought to have originated in the dry plains of Central Asia or East Asia, where it then travelled along the Silk Road, reaching Crimea by 1343. From there, it was most likely carried by Oriental rat fleas living on the black rats that were regular passengers on merchant ships, spreading throughout the Mediterranean Basin and Europe.
Impact
The Black Death had profound effects on human history. It is estimated to have killed 30–60% of Europe's population. In total, the plague reduced the world population from an estimated 475 million to 350–375 million in the 14th century.
Related Terms
- Pandemic: An epidemic of disease that has spread across a large region, for instance multiple continents, or worldwide.
- Bubonic Plague: The most common form of plague in humans, characterized by fever, delirium, and the formation of buboes.
- Silk Road: An ancient network of trade routes that connected the East and West, and was central to the economic, cultural, political, and religious interactions between these regions.
- Oriental rat fleas: A parasite of rodents, primarily of the genus Rattus, and is a primary vector for bubonic plague and murine typhus.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Black Death
- Wikipedia's article - Black Death
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