The Peak Years of the Black Death (jan 1, 1237 – jan 1, 1350)

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In the mid-1300s, there was a catastrophic epidemic of the bubonic plague, affecting places in Europe and Asia. There were an estimated amount of 20-50 million fatalities, which was almost one-third of Europe's population. The Black Death was one of the deadliest and well-known pandemics in history.

The Bubonic plague most likely arrived in Europe from the east via multiple trade routes. It is believed that the plague had originated in Asia, 2,000 years ago, and had spread to places like Europe and Africa through trade. Nobody knew how the disease spread or how it worked, so they were helpless in this time of destruction. The methods used to treat the plague were not effective, and many people took the disease as a sign of God's fury towards human sin. From 1237-1350, the Black Death was at its peak, with doctors the quickest to die.

The Black Death had a disastrous effect on Europe and surrounding areas. As well as the loss of population, Europe's economy suffered, and social instability became more of a problem. With the decline in the population, there were not enough people to maintain the jobs and economy of Europe, so the continent crumpled. The plague also led to peasant revolts and a larger lack of workers. Even though this disaster is widely recognised as a terrible time period, there were quite a few good effects of the plague. One of the most important impacts of the Black Death was the improvement in medicine. Doctors began to question their methods of medicine. Women also gained rights through the plague, as many more women were left, meaning they were needed to help with the recovery of the continent. So despite all the deaths, the Black Death was a very important part of history, that although it seemed to halt progression, it actually progressed people's knowledge of science.

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