The Black Death was a devastating bubonic plague pandemic that struck Europe, Asia, and North Africa between 1346 and 1353. It is considered one of the deadliest pandemics in human history, killing an estimated 25 to 50 million people-about 30% to 50% of Europe's population at the time
. The disease was caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis , which was primarily spread through fleas living on rats, and could also be transmitted through the air in its pneumonic form
. The plague had three main forms: bubonic (characterized by painful swollen lymph nodes called buboes), pneumonic (affecting the lungs), and septicemic (infecting the bloodstream)
. The Black Death originated in Central Asia and spread to Europe via trade routes, including ships carrying infected rats and fleas
. It first appeared in Europe in 1347, rapidly spreading across the continent and causing massive mortality. The pandemic caused profound social, economic, and cultural upheavals, including labor shortages that led to wage increases and contributed to the decline of the feudal system
. Despite the scale of the catastrophe, medical knowledge at the time was limited. People attributed the disease to supernatural or miasma causes, and treatments were largely ineffective. It was only centuries later, in the 19th century, that the bacterium Yersinia pestis was identified as the cause of plague
. In summary, the Black Death was a catastrophic bubonic plague pandemic in the mid-14th century caused by Yersinia pestis , resulting in massive death tolls and lasting impacts on European society and history
