What Made The Black Death (The Plague) so Deadly?

Summary

The video script recounts the devastating arrival of the Black Death in Europe in 1347, detailing its swift spread and the catastrophic impact on populations. It explores the plague's origins, symptoms, and the lack of understanding of transmission methods during the time. The script also delves into theories about the role of fleas, particularly from rats, in spreading the disease and the ineffective medical treatments of the era. The summary concludes by pondering the ongoing debate about the true vectors of the plague and invites viewers to consider the possibility of a modern recurrence.

Takeaways

• 🚢 In October 1347, 12 ships carrying the Black Death arrived in Sicily, marking the beginning of the pandemic in Europe.
• 😷 The disease was characterized by blackened boils, fever, and often death, with symptoms appearing rapidly after infection.
• 🌏 Originating in Asia, the plague followed trade routes and quickly spread to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
• 🏥 At the time, there was a lack of understanding of disease transmission, leading to ineffective treatments and increased spread.
• 🐀 The Black Death is believed to have been spread by fleas, possibly from urban rats, although recent theories suggest human fleas and lice may have played a significant role.
• 🐑 The plague also affected livestock, leading to a shortage of wool and other resources, and devastating the economy.
• 📉 The death toll was staggering, with estimates ranging from 50 to 200 million people, representing a significant portion of the global population at the time.
• 🏙️ Entire villages and towns were depopulated, some eventually becoming overgrown with nature and forgotten until rediscovered in the 20th century.
• 🦠 The bacterium Yersinia pestis was responsible for the bubonic plague, and its high contagion rate contributed to the rapid spread of the disease.
• 🤒 The disease's incubation period allowed it to spread undetected, making isolation and containment extremely difficult.
• 💉 Common treatments like bloodletting and boil-lancing were not only ineffective but could also exacerbate the disease or lead to further complications.

Q & A

When did the Black Death first arrive in Europe?

The Black Death first arrived in Europe in October of 1347, when 12 ships docked at a Sicilian port.

What was the initial reaction of the Sicilian authorities to the arrival of the Black Death?

The Sicilian authorities, horrified by the sight of the diseased sailors, demanded the ships set sail immediately.

What symptoms did the Black Death typically present in its victims?

Victims of the Black Death would develop blackened boils that dripped blood and pus, along with symptoms such as fever, pain, chills, sweating, upset stomach, and diarrhea, usually leading to death.

How did the Black Death spread so rapidly across Europe?

The Black Death spread rapidly due to a lack of understanding of disease transmission, the highly contagious nature of Yersinia pestis, and its ability to be transferred through flea or lice bites.

What role did trade routes play in the spread of the Black Death?

Trade routes played a significant role in the spread of the Black Death, as the disease seemed to follow these paths, moving from Asia to Europe and North Africa.

How did the Black Death affect the livestock population in Europe?

The Black Death decimated livestock, leading to the death of countless pigs, cows, chickens, goats, and sheep, which in turn caused a shortage of wool throughout the continent.

What was the estimated death toll of the Black Death in Europe?

Estimates place Europe's death total between 50 and 70 million people, which was around 30-60% of the population at the time.

What was one of the failed treatments attempted for the Black Death?

Bloodletting was one of the treatments attempted for the Black Death, which involved cutting into veins or arteries to drain blood, but it was ineffective and may have even contributed to the patients' deaths.

How did the Black Death impact the genetic makeup of the surviving European population?

The Black Death had a significant impact on the genetic makeup of the surviving population, as only 0.2% had a gene offering immunity, and the susceptible population did not pass on their genes, leading to a higher resistance in modern Caucasian Americans.

What is the alternative theory to the rat-flea model for the spread of the Black Death?

An alternative theory suggests that human fleas and lice were the primary culprits behind the spread of the Black Death in Europe, with the disease being passed from person to person through bites.

What additional disease was discovered alongside the Black Death victims, potentially worsening the pandemic?

Anthrax spores were discovered alongside the Black Death victims, suggesting that the presence of anthrax may have made the situation worse by adding another life-threatening disease to the mix.

Outlines

00:00

😷 Arrival of the Black Death in Europe

In 1347, 12 ships carrying the bubonic plague arrived in Sicily, bringing a disease that would devastate Europe. The Black Death, characterized by blackened boils and high mortality, quickly spread, despite attempts to contain it. Originating in Asia, it followed trade routes and was unstoppable. Symptoms included fever, pain, and eventual death. Early transmission theories were misguided, and the disease's rapid spread and high mortality rate led to significant societal and economic impacts, with some areas experiencing up to a 90% death rate.

05:04

🐀 Theories on the Spread of the Black Death

The rapid spread of the Black Death has been attributed to various factors, with the urban rat and its flea being a prominent theory. Rats were observed to show similar symptoms to humans, and many plague victims had flea bites. The disease is believed to have spread when fleas from dead rats sought new hosts, often humans. However, recent studies suggest that human fleas and lice may have played a more significant role, with the disease spreading from person to person. The plague's speed and pattern of spread were unusual compared to other historical outbreaks, and the role of additional diseases like anthrax may have exacerbated the situation. Treatment methods of the time, such as bloodletting and boil-lancing, were ineffective and potentially harmful.

10:07

🛡 Impact and Legacy of the Black Death

The Black Death had a profound and lasting impact on Europe, with death tolls estimated between 50 and 70 million people, or approximately 30% of the population. The disease's genetic impact was such that only 0.2% of the population had any immunity, leading to a high susceptibility rate. Over time, those with resistance genes survived and passed on their genes, resulting in a higher resistance rate in modern Caucasian Americans. The plague's aftermath changed the course of history, affecting social structures, economies, and even leading to the reclamation of human settlements by nature. The video concludes with a question about the disease's transmission and a prompt to view another related video for further insights.

Keywords

💡Black Death

The Black Death, also known as the Bubonic Plague, was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history. It is central to the video's theme as it discusses the outbreak's arrival in Europe in 1347 and its catastrophic effects on the population. The script describes the disease's symptoms, transmission, and the high mortality rate, emphasizing its role as a historical disaster.

💡Bubonic Plague

Bubonic Plague is the medical term for the disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which is the focus of the video. The term is significant as it helps define the nature of the Black Death, explaining the swollen lymph nodes, or 'buboes,' that give the disease its name. The script uses this term to discuss the disease's progression and symptoms.

💡Yersinia pestis

Yersinia pestis is the bacterium responsible for causing the Bubonic Plague. The script mentions this bacterium to explain the scientific basis of the disease. Understanding Yersinia pestis is crucial for grasping how the Black Death was transmitted and its deadliness.

💡Pandemic

A pandemic refers to an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population. In the context of the video, the term is used to describe the scale of the Black Death's impact on Europe and later, globally, emphasizing the widespread nature of the disaster.

💡Lymph Nodes

Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped structures throughout the body that form part of the lymphatic system, playing a role in the immune response. The script describes how the Black Death caused the lymph nodes, particularly in the groin and armpit areas, to swell and form the characteristic 'buboes' of the Bubonic Plague.

💡Contagious

Contagious describes a disease that can be transmitted from one person to another through direct or indirect contact. The video highlights the high contagiousness of the Black Death, explaining how it was believed to spread through brief contact with the clothing of infected individuals or via fleas.

💡Flea

Fleas are small insects that feed on the blood of their hosts. In the script, fleas are identified as a primary vector for the transmission of Yersinia pestis, particularly through the bites of infected rats or other animals. The role of fleas is pivotal in understanding how the disease spread so rapidly.

💡Anthrax

Anthrax is a serious infectious disease caused by a bacterium, Bacillus anthracis. The video mentions anthrax as a concurrent disease that may have exacerbated the effects of the Black Death. The discovery of anthrax spores in exhumed bodies suggests that it could have contributed to the high mortality rates.

💡Bloodletting

Bloodletting was a medical practice that involved cutting into a patient's veins or arteries to drain blood, believed to restore balance to the body's 'humors.' The script describes how this ineffective and sometimes harmful treatment was used in an attempt to cure victims of the Black Death, illustrating the lack of medical understanding at the time.

💡Immunity

Immunity refers to the ability of an organism to resist a particular disease, especially through prevention of its development or reduction of its severity. The video discusses the genetic immunity some individuals may have had to the Black Death, explaining the survival and subsequent genetic inheritance of this trait, which is relevant to modern resistance to the disease.

💡Ghost Towns

A ghost town is a place that was once populated but is now abandoned and usually preserved in a state of decay. The script uses the term to describe towns that were left deserted after the majority of their inhabitants died from the Black Death, highlighting the long-term impact of the pandemic on communities.

Highlights

In October 1347, the arrival of 12 plague-infested ships in Sicily marked the beginning of the Black Death in Europe.

The Black Death was characterized by gruesome symptoms such as blackened boils and high mortality rates.

Millions of Europeans died in the pandemic, making it one of history's greatest disasters.

The plague had already devastated populations in Asia and the Near East before reaching Europe.

The disease's rapid spread and high fatality rate made it seem unstoppable, with symptoms including fever, pain, and diarrhea.

Early theories suggested that the disease could be transmitted through brief contact with the clothing of the sick or by spirits leaving the body.

The Black Death infiltrated nearly every European city, with some areas experiencing death rates as high as 90%.

The plague's ability to remain asymptomatic for several days made isolation nearly impossible, contributing to its rapid spread.

The disease affected livestock as well, leading to a shortage of wool and the decimation of rural economies.

Entire villages and regions were depopulated, with some areas reverting to forest due to the absence of human life.

Estimates of the Black Death's death toll range from 50 to 200 million people worldwide.

The bacterium Yersinia pestis, responsible for the plague, is highly contagious and can be spread by fleas or lice.

Some scientists argue that human fleas and lice, rather than rat fleas, were the primary vectors for the rapid spread of the disease in Europe.

The co-occurrence of anthrax with the plague may have exacerbated the pandemic's effects and contributed to the high death toll.

Ineffective treatments such as bloodletting and boil-lancing may have unintentionally worsened the spread and impact of the disease.

The genetic susceptibility of the European population at the time contributed to the high mortality rate, with almost no immunity present.

The Black Death had a profound and lasting impact on history, changing social, economic, and cultural landscapes.

Transcripts

In October of 1347, 12 ships dropped anchor at a Sicilian port.

Those who eagerly approached were met with a grisly sight.

Almost all aboard were either dead or barely alive, their skin erupting with blackened

boils that dripped blood and pus.

In horror, the Sicilian authorities demanded the ships set sail, but though they left,

the damage had already been done.

The Black Death was now in Europe and millions would die in what is considered one of the

greatest disasters in history.

Let’s explore how the bubonic plague wiped out at least a third of Europe’s population,

if not more, in this episode of the Infographics Show, What Made the Black Death so Deadly?

Europe was hit hard by the plague, but it was not hit first.

It was also not unaware of a disease that was already bringing widespread death and

destruction elsewhere.

Before the infested ships arrived in Sicily rumors of a frightful sickness devastating

the populations of first China and then India, Egypt, Persia, and Syria had spread near and

far.

While no one knew what caused it or why, it seemed to follow trade routes spanning the

Near and Far East.

Further, when it appeared, it was by all accounts unstoppable.

Those struck by the Black Death would begin to swell at the lymph nodes located in their

groin area or under arm regions.

The growths would soon develop into large blackish blue egg-sized lumps, or for the

even less fortunate, expand to the size of apples.

These would then fester and ooze various bodily fluids.

Beyond this, those with the disease could develop any combination of a series of additional

symptoms.

These included fever, pain, chills, sweating, upset stomach, and diarrhea.

Almost always, this was followed by death.

According to those who observed its effects first-hand, all it appeared to take was brief

physical contact with the clothing of someone who was sick to pass the disease on to another.

Though, some doctors claimed that it was the spirit leaving the body of the deceased that

infected others as it passed by.

Obviously, at this point in history the real methods of disease transmission were not yet

well understood.

Without understanding it, most were helpless to defend against it.

Few areas other than some islands cut off from the rest of Europe by the sea made it

through the pandemic plague-free.

The rest of the population was not so lucky.

The bacterium infiltrated virtually every European city’s defenses and many who appeared

perfectly healthy one day could be dead a few days later.

It was uncommon though possible for someone to survive a week or two before he or she

died.

Compounding problems further, those with the disease would typically be asymptomatic for

the first few days and so no one would be aware that they had caught it.

This meant that successfully isolating them from the rest of society at this point was

all but impossible.

Those who tried the next best thing to protect themselves by fleeing for the country were

not safe there either.

The plague decimated livestock as well and countless pigs, cows, chickens, goats, and

sheep who also died a brutal death.

This was such a problem that it led to a shortage of wool throughout the continent.

While many European areas had a death figure of around 30%, 90% of the Italian city of

Florence perished.

Sometimes, bodies of the deceased remained where they had died as there were not enough

people still living to bury them.

Thousands of French villages in addition to areas in other locations were left without

a single remaining soul.

The Black Death had mercilessly transformed them into ghost towns.

In some instances, nature eventually took over, and areas that people once called home

were re-claimed by surrounding forest.

It took aerial photography following the end of World War I to rediscover these locations

as places where men, women, and children once lived.

Most estimates place Europe’s death total between 50 and 70 million, or around thirty-some

percent, though the CDC claims it killed as much as 60% of the population, which is considerably

more.

World-wide estimates typically range from 155 to 200 million.

The world at the time was a mere 500 million people, so nearly half of all of its’ inhabitants,

or again according to some sources even more, were killed.

So how was it that the Black Death was able to spread so quickly and wipe out so many,

people and animals alike?

Well for one, as previously mentioned, there was little in the way of scientific knowledge

in the 1300s.

Not only did people not understand the plague’s causes or modes of transmission, but there

were also countless failures in how those in the medical field attempted to treat it.

It is true that Yersina pestis, the bacterium behind the Black Death, or bubonic plague,

is highly contagious.

It can also be spread in many ways, though obviously contaminated spirits aren’t one

of them.

Many believe that in its later stages it had the ability to morph into an airborne strain

that could be passed on to a new host via a simple sneeze or cough.

However, all strains, airborne or those in the more initial stages that are not, are

believed to have been transferred through flea or lice bites.

And many animals in addition to countryside livestock serve as hosts for the bacterium

and blood sucking pests.

Examples are things like squirrels, rabbits, chipmunks, and mice.

However, many in the scientific field have argued that by far the worst contributor to

the spread of the Black Death was the urban rat and its flea.

Part of the reason for this belief is that rats have been observed to develop symptoms

quite similar to those in people, and in cases of the modern-day plague many people with

the sickness had accompanying bites from fleas.

Recent outbreaks often follow what’s known as ‘rat falls’ as well, or when the rodents

die off in record amounts for whatever reason.

Thus, the most prevalent theory is that the Black Death all began when rats with the plague

died and their fleas then looked for more blood in another readily available source,

which would at times be human.

Upon being bitten by the contaminated flea this person would then be exposed to the deadly

bacteria.

Seemingly in support of this theory, ships during the mid-1300s were commonly infested

with the furry rodents who thrived in their dark.

moist environment.

And following the death ships’ arrival in Sicily the plague continued to spread further

following a trade route pattern, as it had previously in Asia, to other port locations

throughout Europe and as far down as North Africa.

However, more recently there have been some proposed tweaks to this rat-based theory.

As we just mentioned, the Black Death, after all, is not the only outbreak of the plague

in the world’s history.

There have been outbreaks before as well as after, and those that took place more recently

followed a different pattern entirely.

Europe’s black death spread much faster, and as far as historical records are concerned

there was no mention of a mass rat die-off in the days or months preceding it.

Now, some scientists suggest that it was human fleas and lice that were the true culprits

behind Europe’s version of the disease.

In this case fleas would bite infected people and then move on to others, one by one, who

happened to be in the nearby vicinity.

They describe the underlying mathematical model that a rat-flea spread follows is quite

different from a human-flea or lice one.

And, when information was plugged into simulations the human-flea model more closely matched

data from seven of nine plague-hit European cities.

Those with this newest evidence admit that the causes of the plague are surrounded by

ongoing controversy.

However, whether the fleas were of the human or rat variety, it is blood sucking pests

of one kind or another that likely passed it on successfully and so very quickly.

It also turns out that the Black Death may not have been causing mass devastation all

by itself.

When victims bodies were exhumed from mass graves in England anthrax spores were also

discovered along with them.

If anthrax was occurring at the same time as the plague this would definitely have made

things much worse.

Anthrax cannot only be passed by coming into contact with sweat, saliva, or tears but also

by mere skin contact.

In other words, at the time of the Black Death pandemic, people could have come down with

a life-threatening disease of one kind or another in pretty much every conceivable way.

It is possible anthrax and other diseases made people extra susceptible to the plague

due to already compromised immunity.

Also, it is possible that the body count of those claimed by the Black Death included

victims that actually died from anthrax or other diseases.

Beyond its quick transfer from host to host and the contributions of additional disease,

the way the Black Death was treated failed to help and may have actually helped kill

victims or spread it further unintentionally.

For example, at least initially, medical practitioners would do such things as perform bloodletting

on patients with the plague.

This is where they cut into veins or arteries in the necks or arms of those who were sick,

so that their blood flowed freely.

This procedure was nothing new and, in fact, dated back as far as to the times of ancient

Egypt and Greece.

Historical figures believed that to be healthy the body needed the right balance of blood,

phlegm, and bile.

Bloodletting was believed to correct a possible imbalance of too much blood which is what

caused the person to get sick.

Unfortunately, the procedure appeared to be as ineffective for the victims of the plague

as it was for Charles II or George Washington centuries later.

While Washington awoke with a sore throat and King Charles suffered a seizure, following

bloodletting treatment both died shortly thereafter.

Boil-lancing was another technique used as a form of treatment which was just how it

sounds.

Someone would essentially lance, or stick a pointy object, into the boils to drain them

of their gooey contents.

If this wasn’t done, they would only continue to grow larger and, in time.

poison their host due to the mass build-up of dead blood and pus.

Then again, popping them could also cause death due to toxic shock.

Beyond the patient likely dying, the boils contained highly contagious matter and possibly

spread the disease yet further.

Other methods such as the burning of various herbs or immersing the sick in vinegar or

rosewater were also, unsurprisingly, ineffective.

In time, after failure upon failure and in an attempt at self-preservation, many doctors

simply stopped accepting patients.

Even priests began refusing to perform last rites out of danger for their own safety.

Where man failed nature did little to help either.

Not only did people have little idea of how to handle the plague, but they were genetically

prone to succumbing to it.

Studies of the remains of the European population at the time determined that only 0.2% had

a gene that offered them any form of immunity.

The other 99.8% had none.

Since so many of those who were susceptible to the plague died from it, they did not pass

their genes on further to the following generations.

Many of those who did have the gene lived on to procreate.

This is why Caucasian Americans now have a 15% chance of having some resistance to the

disease.

This is pretty good news considering the modern form of the plague is still around today.

One encounter via the 12 so-called death ships would go on to wipe out men, women, and children

to such an extent that it would change the tide of history.

What do you think, was it passed on by human or rat fleas?

Let us know in the comments!

Also, be sure to check out our other video called Could the Black Death (The Plague)

Happen Again?!

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