The Black Death: Worst Pandemic in History Visualized

Summary

This video explores the bubonic plague's profound impact on human history, tracing its origins in Central Asia to its devastating pandemics in the 6th and 14th centuries. It discusses how the plague, spread by fleas on rats, reshaped societies, economies, and political landscapes, leading to the decline of empires and the rise of new social structures like capitalism. The video also touches on the modern understanding of the disease and its ongoing, though less severe, presence.

Takeaways

• 😷 The bubonic plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, has had a profound impact on human history, causing widespread death and societal changes.
• 🌏 The first pandemic of bubonic plague likely originated in Central Asia and spread globally, affecting the Byzantine Empire significantly in the 6th century A.D.
• 🚢 The plague was primarily spread through infected fleas on rats, which often traveled on ships, leading to the disease's rapid spread to new regions.
• 🏰 The disease had a devastating effect on the Byzantine Empire, leading to a long-term decline and the eventual rise of new empires and religions.
• 📉 The economic impact of the plague included a significant loss of workforce and tax revenue, which crippled the empire's ability to maintain its military campaigns and territories.
• 💀 The Black Death, a second wave of the bubonic plague in the 14th century, resulted in the deaths of an estimated 200 million people across Eurasia, which was about 42% of the world's population at the time.
• 🌾 The aftermath of the Black Death led to a rise in wages for common people, a decrease in land prices, and the beginning of the end for serfdom and feudalism in Europe.
• 🌟 The plague's impact on Europe set the stage for the rise of capitalism, as the labor shortage empowered peasants to demand better conditions.
• 🔬 The understanding of the disease's transmission through rats and fleas, along with the discovery of antibiotics, helped to reduce the plague's deadly impact on humanity.
• 📚 CuriosityStream offers documentaries that delve into the biological aspects of diseases like the bubonic plague and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
• 🎥 The CuriosityStream and Nebula bundle provides access to a wide range of non-fiction shows and documentaries, including those on significant historical events and scientific discoveries.

Q & A

What is the original plague that significantly changed the course of human history?

The original plague that significantly changed the course of human history is the bubonic plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis.

Where is the bubonic plague believed to have originated?

The bubonic plague is believed to have originated somewhere around the Tianchan Mountains in Central Asia.

How did the bubonic plague spread in the 6th century A.D.?

The bubonic plague spread in the 6th century A.D. through infected fleas that lived on the backs of rats, which stowed away on ships and lived in close proximity to humans.

What was the impact of the bubonic plague on the Byzantine Empire?

The bubonic plague had a devastating impact on the Byzantine Empire, leading to a significant population decline, economic mayhem, and the empire's long-term decline from which it never recovered.

How did the Black Death affect the social and economic structure of Europe?

The Black Death led to the destruction of serfdom and feudalism, increased demand for laborers, higher wages for common people, and the decline in land prices, which contributed to the rise of capitalism.

What was the estimated death toll of the Black Death in Europe between 1347 and 1351?

It is estimated that the Black Death caused the deaths of 60% of the population of the European continent, with some regions like Italy, France, and Spain experiencing up to 75% mortality.

How did the bubonic plague re-emerge in the world in 1347?

The bubonic plague re-emerged in 1347 in Crimea, where the Republic of Genoa had a trading outpost called Kaffa, which was besieged by the Mongols. The plague was brought to Europe by merchants who unknowingly carried infected rats and fleas on their ships.

What was the death toll of the third bubonic plague pandemic that started in 1855 in China?

The third bubonic plague pandemic, which started in 1855 in China, claimed the lives of 12 million people, mostly in India and China.

How did the discovery of the bacterium Yersinia pestis and the role of rats and fleas help in controlling the bubonic plague?

The discovery of Yersinia pestis as the bacterium causing the disease and the understanding of rats and fleas as primary carriers allowed for better prevention and control measures, reducing the deadly impact of the bubonic plague.

How many recorded cases of the plague were there worldwide between 2010 and 2015?

Between 2010 and 2015, there were 3,248 recorded cases of the plague across the world.

Outlines

00:00

😷 The Bubonic Plague: A Historical Pandemic

The first paragraph introduces the video, which is sponsored by CuriosityStream, and delves into the historical impact of the bubonic plague. It discusses the origins of the disease around the Tianchan Mountains in Central Asia and its sudden emergence in the 6th century A.D. during the height of the Byzantine Empire. The paragraph explains how the plague, carried by infected fleas on rats, spread through trade routes and devastated populations, leading to significant societal and economic changes. It highlights the high mortality rate and the lack of medical understanding at the time, which contributed to the disease's rapid spread and profound effects on the Byzantine Empire and the wider world, including the decline of the empire and the rise of new powers.

05:00

🚴‍♂️ The Black Death: Europe's Worst Pandemic

The second paragraph continues the historical narrative by focusing on the second major outbreak of the bubonic plague, known as the Black Death, which occurred between 1347 and 1351. It describes how the disease was inadvertently spread by Genoese merchants escaping from Crimea, leading to a pandemic that killed an estimated 60% of Europe's population. The paragraph details the devastating impact on various regions, with some areas experiencing up to 75% mortality rates. It also discusses the socio-economic consequences of the pandemic, such as the rise in demand for labor, increased wages for peasants, and the decline of feudalism, which paved the way for the emergence of capitalism. The paragraph concludes by noting the long-term recovery of Europe and the eventual decline of the bubonic plague's influence after the discovery of antibiotics and understanding of disease vectors.

10:01

🌐 Modern Pandemics and CuriosityStream

The third and final paragraph shifts focus to the present day, mentioning the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the availability of documentaries on CuriosityStream that explore the biological aspects of diseases and the current health crisis. The paragraph promotes the CuriosityStream and Nebula bundle, which offers a wide range of non-fiction content, including ambitious projects by educational creators. It emphasizes the value of the subscription, which includes access to Nebula, and invites viewers to sign up for the service to enjoy a variety of high-quality documentaries and shows that provide insights into historical and modern pandemics.

Keywords

💡CuriosityStream

CuriosityStream is a subscription-based streaming service offering educational and documentary content. In the context of the video, it is the platform that hosts the video and is promoting its service by offering access to additional content through a bundle deal with Nebula, another streaming platform.

💡Bubonic Plague

The Bubonic Plague is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, historically significant for its role in pandemics. The video discusses its origins, how it spread, and its impact on human history, particularly the first pandemic that began in the 6th century A.D. and the second, more devastating outbreak known as the Black Death in the 14th century.

💡Pandemics

Pandemics refer to an epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents, affecting a large number of people. The video script uses this term to describe the global impact of the bubonic plague, emphasizing its destructive nature and the societal changes it induced.

💡Yersinia pestis

Yersinia pestis is the scientific name for the bacterium that causes the bubonic plague. The script explains that this bacterium was relatively dormant until the 6th century A.D., when it began to spread through trade routes and cause widespread disease.

💡Fleas

Fleas are small insects that infest warm-blooded animals and can transmit diseases. In the video, fleas are identified as the vectors that carry Yersinia pestis, spreading the bubonic plague from infected rats to humans.

💡Rats

Rats are mentioned in the script as the hosts of fleas that carry Yersinia pestis. The close proximity of rats to humans, especially on ships, facilitated the spread of the bubonic plague to new regions.

💡Byzantine Empire

The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, is discussed in the script as being at the height of its power when the bubonic plague first emerged. The empire's decline is linked to the devastating effects of the plague on its population and economy.

💡Black Death

The Black Death is the term used for the second pandemic of bubonic plague that occurred in the 14th century. The script describes it as the worst pandemic in human history, causing the deaths of an estimated 200 million people across Eurasia.

💡Serfdom and Feudalism

Serfdom and feudalism were social and economic systems prevalent in medieval Europe. The script explains that the Black Death led to a decrease in population, which in turn increased the bargaining power of peasants and contributed to the decline of these systems, paving the way for the rise of capitalism.

💡Capitalism

Capitalism is an economic system based on private ownership of the means of production. The video suggests that the demographic and economic shifts caused by the bubonic plague created conditions that favored the emergence and development of capitalism in Europe.

💡Antibiotics

Antibiotics are substances that inhibit the growth of or destroy microorganisms. The script mentions the discovery of antibiotics as a turning point in humanity's ability to combat infectious diseases like the bubonic plague, reducing its deadly impact.

Highlights

Pandemics and diseases have been a constant companion of humanity for thousands of years.

The bubonic plague likely originated in the Tianchan Mountains in Central Asia.

The bacterium Yersinia pestis, which causes bubonic plague, remained dormant until the 6th century A.D.

The first global pandemic began in the Byzantine Empire during its peak of power.

Bubonic plague is spread by infected fleas living on rats, which stow away on ships.

The disease can be transmitted to humans when fleas jump from dying rats to humans.

Without treatment, the fatality rate of bubonic plague is between 30 and 90%.

In the 6th century, the plague wiped out 40% of Constantinople's population, including the emperor.

The plague's spread led to economic mayhem and the decline of the Byzantine Empire.

The first pandemic resulted in the deaths of around 50 million people, or 13% of the world's population at the time.

The plague's resurgence in the 14th century, known as the Black Death, killed 200 million people across Eurasia.

The Black Death led to the destruction of feudalism and the rise of capitalism in Europe.

The third pandemic of 1855 originated in China and spread to British colonies in India.

Modern understanding of the disease and the discovery of antibiotics have reduced the plague's impact.

CuriosityStream offers documentaries on the bubonic plague and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The CuriosityStream Nebula bundle provides access to a wide range of educational content.

Transcripts

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pandemics and diseases have been a

constant companion of humanity for

thousands of years

and although they happen relatively

rarely they can be tremendously

destructive

and they often change society in strange

and unexpected ways

and there is perhaps no disease that has

changed the entire course of human

history more than the original plague

the bubonic plague likely originating

somewhere around the tianchan mountains

in central asia

the bacterium yersinia pestis that

causes bubonic plague

lied relatively dormant with only

occasional outbreaks for untold

millennia until something changed in the

6th century

a.d the byzantine empire was at its apex

of power and influence

she had just retaken the italian

peninsula and was close to reuniting the

entire roman

empire again when all of a sudden at the

worst possible time

the bubonic plague appeared in egypt

it's not

entirely clear how it got here from its

origins in central asia

but the first global pandemic in human

history

was about to begin anyway the bubonic

plague is spread by infected fleas that

live on the backs of rats

the rats stow away on ships and live

within close proximity to humans

so when the ships carry the infected

rats to new cities the disease

inevitably follows the rats eventually

die and the fleas that actually carry

the disease search for new hosts and

jump on humans

when the flea bites a human bacterium

enters the body

and rapidly spreads to the human's

lymphatic system and multiplies

the infected person may not show any

symptoms for one to seven days after

getting bitten

but they'll eventually develop a fever

chills

vomiting and eventually the trademark

appearance of smooth

painful booboos developing out of

swelled up lymph glands around the groin

armpits and the neck game green of the

victim's fingers toes

lips and nose will eventually develop

followed by extreme

pain caused by the decomposition of

living skin

while the victim is still alive without

proper medical treatment the fatality

rate is between 30

and 90 of victims who become infected

and even with

proper modern antibiotic care the

fatality rate still

remains around 10 today obviously the

people in sixth century europe and the

middle east had no access to antibiotics

and they didn't even know that the rats

and fleas were the cause of the pandemic

so the bubonic plague

exploded when ships carrying grain and

infected rats left

egypt for constantinople the biggest

city in the world at the time

the disease spread and would go on to

wipe out 40 percent of the city's

population

infecting even the emperor himself and

as the epicenter of the byzantine empire

the plague spread out on ships leaving

for ports across the mediterranean and

spread like

wildfire 25 of all the humans living in

the eastern mediterranean region

died within just a few years and

tens of millions died across the empire

and eurasia

the millions of deaths caused economic

mayhem across the empire who had just

taken out

massive loans to fight the wars of

reconquest in italy and the western

mediterranean

with millions of less people to work on

farms and pay their taxes

the empire can no longer afford to pay

for future campaigns or even to garrison

the new reconquests

and therefore the empire entered into a

long

long state of decline from which she

would never recover

the vast depopulation and economic

mayhem left the byzantine empire

crippled and overextended which allowed

the lombards the opportunity to quickly

and easily take over northern italy

while also providing a

once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the

arabs and

islam to surge over the rest of the

empire

and take most of it over just a couple

generations later

the first global pandemic would

ultimately cause the deaths of around

50 million people or 13

of all the humans in the world alive at

the time and led

to the final destruction once and for

all of the roman empire

while making room for new empires and

religions to rise up in the chaos

the plague would finally quiet down

again and remained relatively dormant

after the mid-8th century

until several hundred years later when

it would explode onto the world scene

once again

with even more fury and death than it

had ever done before

in 1347 the bubonic plague re-emerged on

the world scene in crimea

the republic of genoa in italy had a

trading outpost at the time in crimea

called

kapha which was being besieged by the

mongols a few years previously

the plague had broken out in the chinese

province of hubei around wuhan

and had killed 80 of the province's

population

it was carried across the silk road in

the mongol army's supply and logistics

lines

before infecting the army that was

besieging kaffa after suffering from the

plague for a while the mongol army

camped outside got the idea to begin

catapulting their infected corpses over

the city walls in an early attempted

biological warfare the residents of kafa

began falling victim to the plague as

well and the g

e's merchants decided to just call it

quits and escaped on their ships back to

italy

unknowingly to them however they had

brought the infected rats and fleas with

them on their ships which were the seeds

that would sow the worst pandemic

ever in all of human history after the

rats got off the ships in sicily and

genoa

the plague exploded all across italy and

quickly spread along trade routes across

the entire mediterranean and europe

so between 1347 and 1351

the plague ravaged most of the european

continent

in just these five years it's estimated

that as much as

60 of the population of the european

continent

died but some areas were hit harder than

others

mediterranean regions like italy france

and spain saw as much as 75

of their populations dying 70 percent of

england's population died out

60 percent of norway's and 20 of

germany's

paris and london both lost half of their

populations

and florence lost so many people that

they didn't recover their population

back until the 1800s but other areas of

europe were almost never even

touched by the plague like poland most

of hungary and belgium

it's unclear why exactly the plague

varied so greatly in intensity across

the continent

but within just five years six out of

every 10 people living on the continent

beforehand

was dead the black death as it became to

be known

also heavily afflicted the middle east

where approximately one

out of every three people died in that

same five-year time frame as well

it's believed that in just this

five-year length of time the bubonic

plague

may have killed as many as 200 million

people across eurasia which is

absolutely

staggering when you remember that the

entire world population

prior to the pandemic was only 475

million people

that means that it's possible that

around 42

of the entire human population of the

world died within just a few years from

a single disease

to put into perspective how absolutely

earth-shattering and cataclysmic it was

for the time

that would be exactly like if a disease

wiped out 3.15

billion people today in just a few years

it would irrevocably change the world

forever just like the black death did in

the 14th century and like the first

plague did in the 6th century

in this case the black death wiped out

most of the people living in europe

which caused the demand for common

people as laborers to skyrocket

the surviving peasants were in a much

better position to demand higher wages

and more freedom from the nobility which

the nobility had to accept as reality in

order to keep society

moving wages for surviving common people

went up the price of land plummeted and

peasants found new opportunities they

never would have had beforehand

the black death had begun the

destruction of serfdom and feudalism as

institutions in europe and gave rise to

the very beginnings of capitalism that

would replace it

it would take europe an entire two

centuries to recover back to the

population that she had

prior to the eruption of the plague and

by that point in the 1550s

capitalism was well on its way to taking

over the continent

the bubonic plague would periodically

flare back up in various places across

europe and the middle east for

centuries afterwards most notably in

london in 1665

and marseille in 1720 but none ever

became a true pandemic again

until the final and the most recent

third great plague pandemic of 1855

in china this time around the plague

appeared in the yunnan province of china

and quickly spread across the qing

empire to the british outpost of hong

kong

where it was transmitted aboard ships to

the british colonies in india

where it wreaked immense havoc this

third bubonic plague pandemic would go

on to claim the lives of 12 million more

people

mostly in india and china but it was

relatively mild everywhere else in the

world

after the discovery of the bacterium

that causes the disease and the

realization that rats and fleas were the

primary carriers in the late 19th

century

and especially after the discovery of

antibiotics the deadly

grip that the plague had over the human

species began to finally fade away

but the bubonic plague does still exist

today between

2010 and 2015 there were still 3248

recorded cases of the plague across the

world

and on average nine people still managed

to get infected by it per

year in the united states after

thousands of years of chaos and

earth-shattering pandemics though

humanity has finally learned how to

properly fight back against the bubonic

plague

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