Unraveling the Mystery of the "Black Death"

In just 8 years, the Black Death claimed the lives of 30-60% of the population in Europe, the Middle East, and the North Africa.

Back in 1347, the Black Death made its way into the Mediterranean brought by ships from the Mongol Empire via the Black Sea. According to some previous articles, when a dozen ships arrived at the port of Messina, in Sicily onlookers were greeted with a scene; many of the sailors aboard had lost their lives and those who survived were in poor condition with their bodies covered in boils. The authorities in Sicily promptly ordered the ships to leave but alas it was too late. The disease swiftly spread across Europe, the Middle East and Africa resulting in devastation to 60% of the population during the first wave of the pandemic from 1346 to 1353— a catastrophic event known as the “Black Death.” Plague outbreaks continued to affect regions for centuries.

Considered one of the calamities in history, the Black Death pandemic had a significant impact on Europe causing a toll. It is essential to note that it wasn't the continent that succumbed to the epidemic. Before reaching Europe the disease had already ravaged countries across the vast region. The plague remains one of the deadliest diseases in human history ranking second only to smallpox. Progress in science led to the discovery of the bacterium responsible for the plague Yersinia pestis by Dr. Alexandre Yersin in 1894.

During the time when the Black Death was spreading across Europe and other areas people had no knowledge about how the disease was caused, transmitted or prevented. Soon after its arrival in Messina, the Black Death made its way to Marseille France and Tunis in Africa before reaching Rome and Florence in Italy— key hubs in a trade network. This disease then spread worldwide with cities like Paris, Bordeaux, Lyon (in France) and London (in England) falling victim to the plague by the middle of 1348.

Today, we associate the "Black Death" with the plague caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. This bacterium was spread from person to person through airborne particles or by bites from infected rats and fleas. During the Middle Ages, both rats and fleas were abundant in Europe, especially on ships.

Carried by fleas and rats infected with the virus, the Black Death spread across Europe.