The Black Death was a devastating pandemic of plague that swept through Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. It is now attributed to the bacterium Yersinia pestis, carried by fleas on rodents, and probably originated in Central Asia before travelling along trade routes. It reached Europe in 1347, brought by Genoese ships from the Black Sea port of Caffa, and spread through Italy, France, England and beyond within a few years. Estimates vary, but it killed perhaps a third or more of Europe's population. The social consequences were profound: labour shortages gave surviving peasants more bargaining power, helping to weaken serfdom, and communities, especially Jewish ones, were persecuted as scapegoats. Plague returned in later outbreaks for centuries.
Before and after
- 1343Birth of Geoffrey Chaucer
- 1345Construction of Ponte Vecchio
- from 1346 to 1859Principality of Moldavia
- 1346Construction of Himeji Castle
- from 1346 to 1352Black Death
- from 16 April 1346 to 1 January 1371Serbian Empire
- from October 1347 to January 1351The Black Death reaches Europe
- 1348Construction of Karlštejn Castle
- 1348Construction of Wenceslas Square
More in Society, economy & sport
- 20 April 571 CEBirth of Muhammad
- c. 970 CEFounding of Al-Azhar University
- 1088Founding of University of Bologna
- from 1150 to 1971Founding of University of Paris
- 12 March 1365Founding of University of Vienna
- 1477Founding of University of Tübingen
The era
This moment belongs to the Medieval world (500 CE to 1500 CE), kingdoms, faiths and trade routes. You can also browse everything in the 14th century.