When Did the Black Death Happen?

The Black Death was a catastrophic outbreak of plague that struck the medieval world in the mid-14th century. It is believed to have been caused mainly by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, spread by fleas living on rats, and possibly transmitted person to person in its pneumonic form. The pandemic likely originated in Central or East Asia and travelled westward along trade routes, reaching the Black Sea and then Europe via merchant ships. It arrived in Sicily in 1347 and spread with terrifying speed across the continent between 1347 and 1351. Victims developed painful swellings (buboes), fever, and often died within days. The death toll was staggering: an estimated 75-200 million people perished, wiping out perhaps 30-60% of Europe entire population. The devastation had profound and lasting effects: severe labour shortages gave surviving peasants and workers more bargaining power, weakening the feudal system; it shook faith in institutions; and it reshaped European society, economy, and culture for generations. Outbreaks of plague recurred periodically for centuries afterward.