The Black Death is estimated to have killed between millions of people across Europe and Asia. Globally, including Asia and the Middle East, the death toll may have reached as high as 200 million people. The massive loss of life had lasting effects on economies, societies, and the structure of medieval life.
WHAT WAS THE BLACK DEATH?
The Black Death is the term that historians use to describe the spread of the bubonic plague. It is believed that the plague first began in Central Asia and spread to Europe through vast trade routes such as the Silk Road. Historians studying the spread of the plague discovered that the disease was spread by fleas that are commonly found on rodents such as rats and mice. As such, it is now understood that the plague spread via trade routes as the rodents travelled in caravans and on merchant ships.
HOW MANY PEOPLE DIED IN THE BLACK DEATH?
The death toll of the Black Death is a debated topic and different historians have offered different views on the issue. Regardless, the reported death tolls are massive with some suggesting that it resulted in the deaths of between 75 and 200 million people in Europe and Asia. These high numbers suggest that between 30% and 60% of people died due to the infectious disease. Some regions suffered more than others, but in general it is widely accepted that approximately half of Europeans died as a result of the disease. For example, it has been recorded that both Paris, France and London, England saw half of their populations succumb to the pandemic.
The death tolls of the Black Death were devastating and led to several major impacts on European society. It had equally devastating results in the Middle East and Asia with similarly dramatic death tolls. The reasons for why the death tolls were so high are many and included: poor hygiene and lack of medical understanding.
