The Black Death is the devastating pandemic that claimed the lives of so many people in Eurasia during the 14th century. This nasty plague came by in 1347. It quickly swept the Middle East and into Europe in a couple of years spreading out of Asia. The disease struck most parts of the huge continent of Eurasia. Its death toll was very high.
That disease was bubonic plague and it was caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis. The plague was transmitted by the black rat through infected fleas. The rats and fleas were spread by busy trade routes especially by merchant ships that allowed the two to cover long distances. Its explosive spread took place due to overpopulated settlements and bad sanitation. Transmission to people was by way of bite.
Victims had violent effects such as extremely high fevers as well as painful swellings known as buboes in the body lymph nodes. These buboes showing in the groin, armpits or the neck usually turned black and pustulated. Other signs were discoloration of the skin and difficulty in breathing. The symptomatic cases usually died off in a period of three to seven days.
The plague brought unbelievable disruption to society. Death rates were very high, this produced extreme labor shortage. Conventional forms of social organization became very weak under the pressure. Citizens lost trust in the governments that could not stop the death toll. According to Panic, there was persecution of minority groups. Every day life and trade were bee-hived.
Historians estimate that 75-200 million people died from the Black Death history across Eurasia. About one-third to a half of the population in Europe died. Entire groups of people disappeared. This death toll had never been seen before. Many generations were needed to heal demographically.
Conclusion:
The Black Death undoubtedly was the catastrophic outbreak that killed millions in Eurasia in the 14th century. It brought devastating effects as it was caused by Yersinia pestis bacteria transmitted by the rats and fleas. The plague brought about unprecedented death, economies were seriously perturbed and social order was ruined. Such a pandemic essentially reorganized the societies in which it struck due to its demographic decimation and social impact in itself.
