Model of fleas containing the Yersinia Pestis on human hair.
WHAT CAUSED THE BLACK DEATH?
The cause of the disease was from the wild rodents bacteria and their parasites. The black rat was the worst species out of all. The plague initially began from the flea. The flea had a feed on the rats blood which contained Yersinia Pestis bacteria. The rat therefore dies and the flea the moves on to another creature or another living thing. As rats live relatively close to humans, the flea has more chance of giving the deadly bacteria to the human then another creature. Today, historians believe this was the most common cause of the infection spreading.
Heres how the process works:
Step 1: Flea
Step 2: Flea bites and infects host
Step 3: New flea feeds
Step 4: Flea is now infected
Step 5: Eats on new host
Step 6: Host dies flea now neeeds a new host!
HOW & WHERE DID THE PLAGUE SPREAD?
Back in the Middle Ages, much travelling by boat was done. It was thought to be that the oriental rat fleas residing on the black rats were regular passengers on merchant ships.
Historians believe that the Black Death had started out in Central Asia or perhaps China and travelled by traders along the Silk Road until it had finally reached Crimea in 1346. Furthermore, some say it was then say carried to Italy in 1347, then spread to Europe and Mediterranean on ships.
Map of the spreading of the Plague
HOW PEOPLE REACTED TO THE BLACK DEATH
Extreme trauma and fear were the most common reactions throughout the time of disturbance. Much of the congregation fled to the cities in panic abandoning their loved ones. Priests and noble acts by doctors were dominated by those who simply refused to treat their patients. When the end time came near of the abolishment of the Plague, many prayed for salvation, while others were wildly corrupt. Flagellants went from one city to the next suffering by whipping themselves to demonstrate their great shame.
They believed one of the reasons was God's punishment ...
During the time of the Bubonic plague, no one knew about biology. Many people believed that the Black Death was God’s divine punishment for all their sins against God. Through this logic, the only way they knew to overcome the plague was to win God’s forgiveness and mercy. Some people of the time alleged eradication in their communities of troublemakers. Example: many Jews were massacred during 1348 and 1349. During this time, thousands fled to lightly populated regions of Eastern Europe.