In October 1347 Genoese galleys arrived in Messina in Sicily with sailors dead or dying of bubonic plague, carried from the Black Sea port of Caffa, which had been besieged by the Mongols. The pandemic spread along trade routes to Italy, France, Spain, England and Germany by 1349, and across Scandinavia and Russia by 1351. It probably killed between 30 and 50 per cent of the population of Europe, some 25 to 50 million people, and also devastated the Middle East and North Africa. Labour became scarce, wages rose, serfdom weakened and the Church was shaken. Plague returned for centuries.
Before and after
- 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
- 7 April 1348Founding of Charles University
- 1349Construction of Galata Tower
More in Earth & climate
- 536 CEThe volcanic winter of 536
- c. 653 CEEruption of Dakataua
- c. 930 CEEruption of Ceboruco
- c. 1280Eruption of Quilotoa
- from 1303 to 1850Little Ice Age
- c. 1477Eruption of Bardarbunga
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.