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The Black Death (1347–1351) was the most devastating pandemic in recorded human history. Caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and spread by fleas on rats, it killed an estimated 30–60% of Europe's population — between 25 and 50 million people. It also devastated the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia, with global deaths estimated at 75–200 million.
The social consequences were transformative: the surviving workers could demand higher wages, accelerating the end of feudalism; the Church's credibility collapsed as prayers failed to stop the plague; and massive social upheaval seeded the Renaissance. Europe took 200 years to recover its pre-plague population.
# Top 10 Black Death facts
- 1The Black Death killed up to 60% of Europe's population — medieval cities lost half their inhabitants overnight
- 2Yersinia pestis, the plague bacterium, still exists and causes small outbreaks today
- 3The plague accelerated the end of feudalism — surviving peasants could demand better wages
Fascinating Facts
- ◆The Black Death killed up to 60% of Europe's population — medieval cities lost half their inhabitants overnight
- ◆Yersinia pestis, the plague bacterium, still exists and causes small outbreaks today
- ◆The plague accelerated the end of feudalism — surviving peasants could demand better wages
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