The Black Death
By: Abby Bova
Your family and friends have probably already been greatly affected by the recent spread of a plague called the Black Death. This plague is spreading very quickly and has killed many people. For the duration of this article, we will explain all about this plague including how we think it started and is spreading so fast.
We believe the Black Death is a disease caused by a type of bacteria carried by fleas. These fleas began infesting black rats which are everywhere during this time.
This plague started somewhere in the Gobi desert. The Black Death has been around for centuries but recently, starting in the 1300s, it has spread farther and more quickly than ever before. Here is one person’s point of view on why this terrible plague is happening to us.
“God is punishing us! Those of you who are blaming the Jews, you are wrong! And you Germans who are expelling them from your cities, this clearly needs to end! Why can’t you see that God is punishing us! All we need to do is keep praying!”
Many people are agreeing with this citizen but some of our leaders have a different idea…
They believe that the Mongol Empire is partly responsible for the plague spreading so fast. The Mongol Empire covers all land from Eastern Europe through central Asia to China. The Mongols opened up trade recently between China, India, the Middle East, and Europe. More goods are being shipped across central Asia than ever before. This is what they believe made it possible for the Black Death to spread rapidly, because caravans infested with rats carry it from city to city.
While our continent is having a hard time with this, other places are getting hit harder with this. The first outbreak took place in China in 1331. In 1335 it erupted there again. During that time it killed 40 to 60 million people. The disease appeared in India in the 1340s and reached Makkah, in 1349. Before then, in 1346, the Black Death came to Europe at the city of Caffa on the Black Sea. This trade colony, controlled by Italian merchants from the city of Genoa, carried the plague to Sicily in October 1347. The Black Death hit our country, England, in 1349, after it had spread through France and Germany.
Now, in1355, about 19-38 million Europeans have died. As the Black Death is ending, trade declines, wage rises, and other economic changes are being predicted.
By: Abby Bova
Your family and friends have probably already been greatly affected by the recent spread of a plague called the Black Death. This plague is spreading very quickly and has killed many people. For the duration of this article, we will explain all about this plague including how we think it started and is spreading so fast.
We believe the Black Death is a disease caused by a type of bacteria carried by fleas. These fleas began infesting black rats which are everywhere during this time.
This plague started somewhere in the Gobi desert. The Black Death has been around for centuries but recently, starting in the 1300s, it has spread farther and more quickly than ever before. Here is one person’s point of view on why this terrible plague is happening to us.
“God is punishing us! Those of you who are blaming the Jews, you are wrong! And you Germans who are expelling them from your cities, this clearly needs to end! Why can’t you see that God is punishing us! All we need to do is keep praying!”
Many people are agreeing with this citizen but some of our leaders have a different idea…
They believe that the Mongol Empire is partly responsible for the plague spreading so fast. The Mongol Empire covers all land from Eastern Europe through central Asia to China. The Mongols opened up trade recently between China, India, the Middle East, and Europe. More goods are being shipped across central Asia than ever before. This is what they believe made it possible for the Black Death to spread rapidly, because caravans infested with rats carry it from city to city.
While our continent is having a hard time with this, other places are getting hit harder with this. The first outbreak took place in China in 1331. In 1335 it erupted there again. During that time it killed 40 to 60 million people. The disease appeared in India in the 1340s and reached Makkah, in 1349. Before then, in 1346, the Black Death came to Europe at the city of Caffa on the Black Sea. This trade colony, controlled by Italian merchants from the city of Genoa, carried the plague to Sicily in October 1347. The Black Death hit our country, England, in 1349, after it had spread through France and Germany.
Now, in1355, about 19-38 million Europeans have died. As the Black Death is ending, trade declines, wage rises, and other economic changes are being predicted.