Black Death: Difference between revisions
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The '''Black Death''', also known as the '''Black Plague''', refers to a devastating [[pandemic]] that widely affected [[Eurasia]] and [[North Africa]] in the middle of the [[14th century]], killing between one-third and two-thirds of affected populations. Globally, it is estimated that the Black Death killed at least 75 million people. The same disease is thought to have returned to Europe at least every generation with varying degrees of [[ | The '''Black Death''', also known as the '''Black Plague''', refers to a devastating [[pandemic]] that widely affected [[Eurasia]] and [[North Africa]] in the middle of the [[14th century]], killing between one-third and two-thirds of affected populations. Globally, it is estimated that the Black Death killed at least 75 million people. The same disease is thought to have returned to Europe at least every generation with varying degrees of [[virulence]] and [[infectivity]] until the 1700s. | ||
While the exact infection is unknown, it is generally assumed to be ''[[Yersinia pestis]]'', presenting in the [[plague|bubonic form of plague]]. "Bubonic" refers to the symptomatic ''bubo,'' a swelling of the [[lymphatic gland]]. The most common vector of plague is from rat to man via fleas. <ref name="Cartwright29,30">"Disease and History," Frederick F. Cartwright in collaboration with Michael D. Biddiss, Dorset Press, 1991, pgs. 29, 30</ref> | |||
==Effects in Europe== | ==Effects in Europe== | ||
Revision as of 22:09, 8 May 2009
The Black Death, also known as the Black Plague, refers to a devastating pandemic that widely affected Eurasia and North Africa in the middle of the 14th century, killing between one-third and two-thirds of affected populations. Globally, it is estimated that the Black Death killed at least 75 million people. The same disease is thought to have returned to Europe at least every generation with varying degrees of virulence and infectivity until the 1700s.
While the exact infection is unknown, it is generally assumed to be Yersinia pestis, presenting in the bubonic form of plague. "Bubonic" refers to the symptomatic bubo, a swelling of the lymphatic gland. The most common vector of plague is from rat to man via fleas. [1]
Effects in Europe
The Black Death first struck Europe in the mid-14th century (1347–1351).
References
- ↑ "Disease and History," Frederick F. Cartwright in collaboration with Michael D. Biddiss, Dorset Press, 1991, pgs. 29, 30