The Black Death, also known as the plague, was once considered one of the deadliest plagues in human history. The reason why this virus can be considered so has a lot to do with the outbreak of the Black Death in the Middle Ages in Europe.
During the Middle Ages, there were many outbreaks of the Black Death, and the virus began to spread throughout Asia, Europe and northern Africa. Taking Europe alone as an example, the Black Death has been raging for nearly 300 years, and the death rate of the infected has reached a terrifying 70%, and there is almost no possibility of cure.
If you really want to talk about the reasons for the outbreak of the Black Death in Europe, I think there are two places to talk about. One is the Western Expedition of the Mongolian Army; the other is the hunting of cats in Europe.
Then why is it said that the Black Death has something to do with the Mongolian army?
Because, in the current historian circle, it is generally believed that the Black Death in Europe was infected from the Mongols, and its origin was in the city of Kaffa on the Crimean Peninsula in the Black Sea.
In 1347, the third year after the Mongolian Golden Horde attacked Kaffa, a plague suddenly broke out in the Mongolian army outside Kaffa. The arrival of this plague greatly shook the morale of the Mongolian army, which had been unable to attack Kaffa for a long time.
Plague, an ancient disease from Asia, is mainly transmitted by fleas on mice, especially the prairie rats that nomads often come into contact with, which are important carriers of Yersinia pestis. For the Mongolians, the plague is an old friend, because the prairie rat is a very common prey, which can not only be used to practice their archery skills, but also a valuable source of meat, which is deeply loved by the Mongolians.
Although the Mongols had some experience with the plague, there was indeed nothing they could do in the war that broke out abroad. In order to reduce unnecessary losses and pain, and to end this war as soon as possible, the Mongols decided to use vicious "germ warfare" when they couldn't bear it. They threw the corpses with Yersinia pestis into the city of Caffa with trebuchets, which led to the outbreak of plague in the city.
The army in Kaffa City was quickly broken under the double pressure of the plague and the Mongolian army, and Kaffa City fell into the hands of the Mongols. After the city was broken, some Kapha people fled to Europe with the germs and arrived in Italy.
After these Kaffa people arrived in Italy, the virus soon began to spread in Italy. In 1348, the epidemic spread to France, Spain and the United Kingdom. In 1350, it spread eastward to Germany and Northern Europe, and finally to Russia in 1351. In this way, the plague spread throughout Europe in a very short period of time.
Perhaps, the Kapha people at that time did not expect that their escape would bring such a disaster to Europe, let alone that this disaster would trigger the Black Death frenzy in Europe for three centuries. died in this disaster.
Of course, the Black Death was able to break out like this, and there must be more than one reason for "Caffa City". In fact, the hunting of cats in Europe also indirectly affected the disaster.
As mentioned earlier, the carrier of the Black Death (plague) is the rat, so what are the natural enemies of the rat? Of course it is a cat. As for cats, the living environment in Europe at that time was not optimistic.
Under the strong influence of the European church, cats were considered by Europeans to be companions of witches and the embodiment of evil. The same is true, cats are almost extinct in Europe, as long as one is found, it will be killed.
In addition, European cities in the Middle Ages were very crowded and public health was very backward. Naturally, there were more and more rats, until the plague of rats and the outbreak of the Black Death.
The three Black Deaths in the Middle Ages in Europe had a profound impact on the entire European society. To a greater extent, it can be said that it changed the historical process of Europe to a certain extent.
Because of the Black Death, the population of Europe decreased significantly, which led to artificial labor becoming a "scarce resource" in the society at that time, so that farmers who were originally at the bottom of society could take the opportunity to demand higher treatment and benefits from noble lords. More rights, thus shaking the personal dependence on the feudal lords, indirectly accelerated the disintegration of the feudal system and the rise of capitalism.
Also, the Black Death has shaken the relationship between Catholicism and civilians. Because it was discovered that those Catholic priests, like ordinary people, were also infected with the Black Death and died in pain, which made the church gradually lose its credibility in Europe.
After the Black Death, those Europeans who got rid of the shackles of thought and religion began the enlightenment of free thought, which also laid a certain foundation for the later European "Renaissance".
