The Black Death: One tiny flea changing Europe

            The Black Death was an outbreak of bubonic plague that wreaked a wide swath of death throughout Europe and the Mediterranean area in 1347 through 1351 (MSN Encarta, 2008). Although the plague can be transmitted or carried by a variety of rodents, such as rats, marmots and prairie dogs (MSN Encarta, 2008), it is believed that the plague was carried on the bodies of black rats by a variety of flea, particularly the Oriental Rat flea (TimelineIndex, 2004). The rats would come on board the merchant vessels and caravans of traders and make their way to the shores of Europe (Insecta, 2004).

            The plague made its presence, and its harbingers of death, felt very quickly in Europe (Insecta, 2004). Sweeping rapidly through the trade routes, it reached the Italian mainland by the spring of 1348 (Ibis, 2008). Some believed that the infected rodents migrated from the Middle East into southern Russia, then spread trough trading routes (MSN Encarta, 2008). Others believed that the plague were carried by the Mongol armies and traders from Asia (Insecta, 2004). It was when it reached England that it earned its name “Black Death” , because of the dark marks it made on the body of its victims (TheMiddleAges.net, 2008). When the plague  had finally spent itself, one third of Europe’s people were dead-about 25 million people from all over the continent (The MiddleAges.net, 2008).But due to their isolated positions, Bohemia, Poland and central Germany did not see the plague until 1360 (MSN Encarta, 2008).

            The Black Death had an economic and historical impact on Europe as well. Agricultural workers that survived the carnage were now able to travel and demand higher wages for their services (Insecta, 2004). As a result, large estates collapsed and small town and cities sprang up (Insecta, 2008). The economic basis of wealth derived from the land thus had shifted (Insecta, 2004).

            The effect of fleas on rats had murderous effects on the population of Europe. it took 400 years to equal its pre-Black Death levels (Inspecta, 2004). In retrospect, what caused this shift was one tiny flea (Insecta, 2004).

Reference

Ibis Communications (2008). The black death, 1348. Retrieved May 6, 2008, from eyewitnesshistory website.

            http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/plague.htm

Insecta-Inspecta Inc. (2004). The Black Death. Last revision June 1, 2004. Retrieved May 6,            2008, from Insecta-Inspecta website.

            http://www.insecta-inspecta.com/fleas/bdeath/Path.html

TheMiddleAges.net (2008). The black death: bubonic plague. Retrieved May 6, 2008, from   TheMiddleAges.net website.

            http://www.themiddleages.net/plague.html

Timeline Index (2004). The black death in Europe. Retrieved May 6, 2008, from TimelineIndex

            website.

            http://www.timelineindex.com/content/view/589