When people think of Europe and the Dark Ages, they think of the Black Death. The black death is also known as the bubonic plague. The first significant outbreak in Europe took place in 1347 and slowed down in 1350. This plague was spread by fleas that had Yersinia pestis bacterium. These fleas would use black rats as transportation. The rats would go on ships, in houses and into water supplies contaminating everything in its path. Also, it is said that the black death first plagued the Mongol armies in Asia, and it gradually moved westward. As the Mongols invaded territories such as Karra they would catapult bodies that had the disease. People from Karra would try to avoid war by fleeing (sick and all) to cities such as Genoa and Venice. From there it would devastate Italy and spread to France, Spain and Great Britain.

What did it do to the human body?

The bubonic plague spread throughout the body very fast. It would start out like the common cold, giving the victim a fever. It then begins to swell the lymph glands (which are called buboes; the reason why the plague is called the bubonic plague). The groin and the armpits would be the site of severe swelling, along with other parts of the body. It was not uncommon for a person to have very bloodshot eyes, blood noses and in many instances the victim vomitted blood. The victim would also have several red spots all over there body, which eventually turns into huge black gashes.

The black death had a catastrophic impact on Europe. One third of the population would die from the disease (about 25 million). People not yet affected by the plague would help other townspeople bury or burn the dead. There would be mass burial sites all over Europe. This, of course, would cause an extreme amount of anxiety between towns people. They would not listen or trust one another in fear of getting the disease. There was no order in this chaotic time. It would also spark new novels such as the The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio. In this novel a group of people run away from the black death in hopes of avoiding its wraith.

(The start of a burial site)


(A victim of the black death would look something like this)


(Swelling of the buboes)