The Black Death, also known as the pestilencePestilence, the Great Plague, or the Black Plague was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history. Europe was affected beginning in the year 1347 and ending in 1351. The cause was believed to be the Yersinia Pestis, which is a bacteria that lives inside rats. It can spread to humans through infected flea bites and contaminated objects. The black plague was significant because it impacted the daily lives of one-quarter of Europe's population.
The Black Plague had a major impact on the population and caused many people to die. One reason why the Plague had such a major impact had to do with the unavailability of vaccines and medicine in the year 1347. Therefore, when the Plague hit ithit, many people got sick. They would end up dying in five to six days. The Bubonic Plague ended up killing a third of men, women, and children. The Black Plague was also contagious. It spread off of rats and flea bites. Thus, causing many people to get sick. This sickness contributed to the decrease of the population in Europe. The Pestilence also destroyed the function of families and relationships of others by causing one to be infected and soon dying.
The outbreak first started in China in the 1300s. It spread along trade routes, reaching Sicily in 1347 then Spain, France, and southern England in the year 1348. It hit the extreme northern part of England in 1350. In England, the port of Bristol, which is the second largest town, was hit badly by the Black Death. Forty percent of the town was killed due to the Plague. After hitting Bristol, it spread to London in the year 1349. Some symptoms people experienced included high fever, shivering, and pains all over the body.