The Black Plague is the name later given to the epidemic that ravaged Europe between 1347 and 1351. The disease affected all areas of life and caused chaos were ever it spread. The economic effects of the plague were enormous, town populations fell fell, trade declined and prices rose. So much death could only tear economic and social structures apart.
Records indicate the disease was transmitted by the fleas on the Black rats that were were native to Asia. As a result, the plague which was solely based on the trade routes, carved a path of death through Asia westward to Europe. Some of the Europeans had become aware of a mysterious illness that was effecting the orient but the were not worried about it reaching them. .
Further the Mongol empire was expanding their territory and had their cites set on Caffa. A port in Crimea which was a large trading city, which was held by Genoa, a mighty commercial power. As a result, the citizens retreated behind their great city walls, and shortly the Mongols started to dye in large numbers from the horrible disease. The villagers felt that God had answered their prayer. But soon not knowing how the disease spread, the army began launching the corpses similar to ammunition. The people of Caffa fled to Europe bringing the disease with them.
The Black Plague is just one of the names for the three deadly forms of the plague that would spread through the continents."Physicians at the time did not know the cause of the disease."(386 , World Encyclopedia) Although the disease had a perfect breeding ground there were close living conditions, unsanitary conditions,and rodents. The Plague first appeared with symptoms of people having pustules or buboes on the skin,most victims were nausea,fever and vomiting blood. Later on, as the disease progressed the skin became dark colored and the victim would soon die. As the disease altered the Bubonic Plague appeared,symptoms were the same but know it was passed person to person through coughing.
