Secondary Catalogue
The Black Death
1346 - Oriental rat fleas infected with the Yersinia pestis bacterium arrive by boat in several European cities. Within three years, the ‘Pestilence’ or ‘Great Mortality’ grips the entire continent. Bubonic plague earns its name from the appearance of buboes; swollen lymph nodes usually found in the armpit, groin or neck. During the Siege of Caffa, Mongols hurl plague cadavers over the walls to spread disease. Jews are accused of poisoning the wells and exterminated throughout Europe. Lepers receive the same treatment. Believing the plague is caused by bad air, people stop bathing, making matters worse. Perfumes and colognes become popular to cover the stench. The pandemic known as the ‘Black Death’ killed an estimated 50 million people, wiping out 60% of Europe’s population. The abundance of death and suffering inspired an artistic genre; the Danse Macabre.
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