The Great Pestilence (Black Plague) (jan 1, 1320 – jan 1, 1665)
Description:
Black Plague (Bubonic Plague)
-Bacterium: Yersinia pestis
-Trappers collected pelts from sick animals
-The disease moved along trading routes (silk road)
-Symptoms: High fever, aching limbs, severe headaches, vomit blood, red blotches over skin that later turn black, putrid smell, swollen and discolored lymph nodes that rupture (bubos), death in 3-4 days
-Europe: 1/3 of total population died in two years
-Worldwide: 200 million people died in six years
-Took 150 years for Europes population to recover
-Causes:
-Thought at the time that the cause was Astronomy (Saturn, Jupiter and Mars aligned in an unfortunate manner)
-Bad thoughts
-Miasma (Bad air)
-Actual Cause: Disease was spread by fleas which was mainly transported by rodents
-Qurainteen was first developed during this time because they would make ships wait in the harbor for 30 days before allowing them to dock to make sure there wasn't any infection on board
Added to timeline:
Alex Wang Diseases in History Timeline
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