The Black Death 1346-1353
The Black Death was one of the most devastating catastrophes in human history. From 1346 to 1353, the Bubonic Plague hit Europe, Africa, and Asia, killing between an estimated 75 and 200 million people. The Plague was believed to have originated in China and most likely spread through fleas on rats.
The Triumph of Death by Peter Bruegel the Elder. Photo by Granger / Shutterstock
Within just a few months, the deathly Plague killed 60% of Florence’s population, and about the same proportion died in Siena. The Bubonic Plague is a disease stemming from the bacterium Yersinia Pestis that spread among rodents living in great numbers. The Black Death was the most deadly outbreak of the bubonic plague in history.