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. . .. . .TheThe
BlackBlackDeathDeath
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DeathDeath
The Black Death was one of theThe Black Death was one of the
deadliest pandemics in humandeadliest pandemics in human
history, peaking in Europe betweenhistory, peaking in Europe between1348 and 1350. It is widely thought1348 and 1350. It is widely thought
to have been an outbreak of bubonicto have been an outbreak of bubonic
plague caused by the bacteriumplague caused by the bacterium
Yesinia pestisYesinia pestis, but this view has, but this view hasrecently been challenged.recently been challenged.
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Usually thought to have started inUsually thought to have started inCentral Asia, it had reached theCentral Asia, it had reached the
Crimea by 1346 and from there,Crimea by 1346 and from there,probably carried by fleas residingprobably carried by fleas residingon the black rats that wereon the black rats that were
regular passengers on merchantregular passengers on merchant
ships, it spread throughout theships, it spread throughout theMediterranean and Europe.Mediterranean and Europe.
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The Black Death isThe Black Death is
estimated to have killedestimated to have killed30% to 60% of Europe's30% to 60% of Europe's
population, reducing thepopulation, reducing the
world's population fromworld's population froman estimated 450 millionan estimated 450 million
to between 350 andto between 350 and
375 million in 1400.375 million in 1400.
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This has been seen asThis has been seen as
creating a series ofcreating a series of
religious, social andreligious, social andeconomic upheavals whicheconomic upheavals which
had profound effects on thehad profound effects on the
course of European history.course of European history.
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It took 150 years for
Europe's population torecover. The plaguereturned at various
times, resulting in alarger number of deaths,until it left Europe in the
19th century.
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Scientists and historians at theScientists and historians at thebeginning of the 20th centurybeginning of the 20th century
assumed that the Black Death wasassumed that the Black Death wasan outbreak of the same diseases,an outbreak of the same diseases,caused by the bacteriumcaused by the bacteriumYersiniaYersiniapestispestis and spread by fleas whichand spread by fleas which
primarily made use of highlyprimarily made use of highlymobile small animal populationsmobile small animal populationslike that of the black rat (like that of the black rat (RattusRattus
rattusrattus).).
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Once infected by the YersiniaOnce infected by the Yersinia
pestis bacterium, it ispestis bacterium, it is
estimated that victims wouldestimated that victims woulddie within three to seven days.die within three to seven days.
However, this view has recentlyHowever, this view has recently
been questioned by somebeen questioned by somescientists and historians,scientists and historians,
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and some researchers,and some researchers,
examining historical recordsexamining historical records
of the spread of disease,of the spread of disease,believe that the illness was,believe that the illness was,
in fact, a viral hemorrhagicin fact, a viral hemorrhagic
fever.fever.
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Some historians believe theSome historians believe the
pandemic began in China orpandemic began in China or
Central Asia (one suchCentral Asia (one such
location is Lake Issyk Kul) inlocation is Lake Issyk Kul) in
the lungs of thethe lungs of the bobacbobacvariety of marmot, spreadingvariety of marmot, spreading
to fleas, to rats, andto fleas, to rats, and
eventually to humans.eventually to humans.
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In the late 1320s or 1330s,In the late 1320s or 1330s,
merchants and soldiers carriedmerchants and soldiers carried
it over the caravan routes untilit over the caravan routes untilin 1346 it reached the Crimea inin 1346 it reached the Crimea in
South Eastern Europe. OtherSouth Eastern Europe. Other
scholars believe the plague wasscholars believe the plague wasendemic in that area.endemic in that area.
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In either case, from Crimea theIn either case, from Crimea theplague spread to Westernplague spread to Western
Europe and North AfricaEurope and North Africaduring the 1340s.The totalduring the 1340s.The totalnumber of deaths worldwidenumber of deaths worldwide
is estimated at 75 millionis estimated at 75 million
people, approximately 25people, approximately 2550 million of which occurred50 million of which occurred
in Europein Europe
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The Black Death is estimatedThe Black Death is estimated
to have killed 30% to 60% ofto have killed 30% to 60% of
Europe's population. It mayEurope's population. It may
have reduced the world'shave reduced the world's
population from anpopulation from an
estimated 450 million toestimated 450 million to
between 350 and 375 millionbetween 350 and 375 million
in 1400.in 1400.
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The plague is thought tohave returned every
generation with varyingvirulence and mortality
until the 1700s. Duringthis period, more than100 plague epidemics
swept across Europe.
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On its return in 1603, theOn its return in 1603, the
plague killedplague killed
38,000 Londoners. Other38,000 Londoners. Othernotable 17th-centurynotable 17th-century
outbreaks were the Italianoutbreaks were the Italian
Plague of 16291631, andPlague of 16291631, and
the Great Plague of Sevillethe Great Plague of Seville
(16471652), the Great(16471652), the GreatPlague of London (1665Plague of London (1665
1666)1666)
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and the Great Plague of Vienna (1679).and the Great Plague of Vienna (1679).
There is some controversy over theThere is some controversy over the
identity of the disease, but in its virulentidentity of the disease, but in its virulentform, after the Great Plague of Marseilleform, after the Great Plague of Marseille
in 17201722, the Great Plague of 1738in 17201722, the Great Plague of 1738
(which hit eastern Europe), and the(which hit eastern Europe), and the
Russian plague of 1770-1772, it seems toRussian plague of 1770-1772, it seems to
have disappeared from Europe during thehave disappeared from Europe during the
19th century.19th century.
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The 14th-century eruption of the Black DeathThe 14th-century eruption of the Black Deathhad a drastic effect on Europe's population,had a drastic effect on Europe's population,irrevocably changing the social structure. Itirrevocably changing the social structure. It
was, arguably, a serious blow to the Catholicwas, arguably, a serious blow to the CatholicChurch, and resulted in widespreadChurch, and resulted in widespread
persecution of minorities such as Jews,persecution of minorities such as Jews,foreigners, beggars, and lepers. Theforeigners, beggars, and lepers. The
uncertainty of daily survival has been seenuncertainty of daily survival has been seen
as creating a general mood of morbidity,as creating a general mood of morbidity,influencing people to "live for the moment",influencing people to "live for the moment",as illustrated by Giovanni Boccaccio inas illustrated by Giovanni Boccaccio in TheThe
DecameronDecameron (1353).(1353).
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. . .. . .
NamingNaming
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Medieval people called thecatastrophe of the 14th
century either the "GreatPestilence"' or the "Great
Plague".
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Writers contemporary to the plague referredWriters contemporary to the plague referred
to the event as the "Great Mortality".to the event as the "Great Mortality".
Swedish and Danish chronicles of the 16thSwedish and Danish chronicles of the 16th
century described the events as "black" forcentury described the events as "black" for
the first timenot to describe the late-the first timenot to describe the late-
stage sign of the disease, in which thestage sign of the disease, in which the
sufferer's skin would blacken due tosufferer's skin would blacken due to
subepidermal haemorrhages (purpura), andsubepidermal haemorrhages (purpura), andthe extremities would darken withthe extremities would darken with
gangrene (acral necrosis).gangrene (acral necrosis).
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However, the term is more likelyHowever, the term is more likely
to refer to black in the sense ofto refer to black in the sense of
glum, lugubrious, or dreadful asglum, lugubrious, or dreadful asto denote the terribleness andto denote the terribleness and
gloom of the events.gloom of the events.
The German physician andThe German physician andmedical writer Justus Heckermedical writer Justus Hecker
took that idea when hetook that idea when he
described the catastrophe indescribed the catastrophe in18321832
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in his publicationin his publication "Der schwarze"Der schwarze
Tod im vierzehnten Jahrhundert"Tod im vierzehnten Jahrhundert"..
The work was translated intoThe work was translated intoEnglish the following year, andEnglish the following year, and
under the influence of the choleraunder the influence of the cholera
epidemic of that time,epidemic of that time,
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"The Black Death in the 14th"The Black Death in the 14th
century"century" gained widespreadgained widespread
attention which coined theattention which coined thetermterm Schwarzer TodSchwarzer Todandand BlackBlack
DeathDeath in the German andin the German and
English speaking worldsEnglish speaking worldsrespectively.respectively.
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