Infection spreads through ports of Mediterranean sea. (jan 1, 1347 – dec 31, 1347)

Description:

Who: In 1347, the Black Death began to affect various regions around the Mediterranean Sea, spreading particularly through trade routes and affecting multiple groups of people. Some of the key areas and populations impacted include:



What: The plague is believed to have originated in Central Asia and spread westward along trade routes. It was carried by fleas that infested rats, which traveled on ships and within the cargo.

Arrival in Caffa: As mentioned earlier, the siege of Caffa (modern-day Feodosia, Ukraine) by Tatar forces in 1346 led to a major outbreak among the besieging troops. Fleeing merchants and sailors from Caffa carried the disease to other parts of the Mediterranean.

Major Ports Affected: The plague initially spread to several key ports along the Mediterranean, including:

When: The Black Death began to affect Europe in earnest in 1347. It is generally accepted that the plague reached the port city of Messina in Sicily in the spring of 1347. Ships arriving from the Black Sea brought with them not only goods but also the plague, which had devastated populations in various regions, including the Tatar troops who had laid siege to Caffa in 1346.

Where: Caffa (Feodosia): The plague had already been affecting the Tatar troops during the siege of Caffa in 1346. As the siege ended and the situation deteriorated for the Tatars, many fled the region, carrying the disease with them.

Messina, Sicily: In late October 1347, ships arrived in the port of Messina from the Black Sea. When dockworkers and officials inspected the ships, they discovered that many crew members were gravely ill, and some had already died. This marked one of the first cases of the Black Death entering Europe through a Mediterranean port.

Genoa: Ships from Caffa also reached the port of Genoa, Italy. From Genoa, the disease spread further inland across Italy and then into other parts of Europe.

Added to timeline:

Date: