Black Death :: European Europe History

Black DeathSince the reign of Emperor Justinian in 542 A.D., man has one unwelcome organism along for the ride, Yersinia pestis. This is the bacterium more commonly know as the Black Death, the natesker. Plague is divided into tether biotypes, each associated with one of three major pandemics occurring in history. Each of these biotypes are then divided into three distinct types, classified by method acting of infection. The most widely know is bubonic, an infection of wickedness that resides in the lymph nodes, causing them to swell. The Black Death of the 14th century was mainly of this type. Bubonic plague is commonly facing pages by means of fleas that have made a repast from an infected Rattus rattus. The most dangerous type of plague is pneumonic. It can be scattering through aerosol droplets released through coughs, sneezes, or through fluid contact. It may also become a secondary head of a case of untreated bubonic or septicemic plague. Although non as common as th e bubonic strain, it is more deadly. It has an untreated death rate rate on nearly 100%, as compared to 50% untreated mortality for bubonic plague. It attacks the respiratory track, furthering the cycle. The third type of plague is septemic. It is spread by direct bodily fluid contact. It may also arm as a secondary result of untreated bubonic or pneumonic plague. A LITTLE HISTORY As mentioned before, the most know incidence of bubonic plague was in 14th century Europe. In 1346 reports of a terrible pestilence in China, spreading through Mesopotamia and Asia underage had reached Europe, but caused no concern until two courses later. In January of 1348 the plague had reached Marseille in France and Tunis in Africa. By the end of the next year the plague had reached as far as Norway, Scotland, Prussia, Iceland, and Italy. In 1351 the infection had spread to include Russia. The plague was an equal opportunity killer. In Avignon nine bishops were killed, pansy Alfonso XI of Castile succumbed, and peasants died wherever they lay. Though the plague had, for the most part, ceased less than ten-spot years after it started, it killed nearly one third of the European population. In many towns the dead outnumbered the living. Bodies piled in the streets faster than nuns, monks, and relatives could bury them. Many bodies were buried in mass graves, overflowing with dead, or dumped into nearby rivers.