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Acral necrosis of the nose, the lips, and the fingers and residual ecchymoses over both forearms in a patient recovering from bubonic plague that disseminated to the blood and the lungs. Author Textbook of Military Medicine. Washington, DC, US Department of the Army, Office of the Surgeon General, and Borden Institute. 1997:493.

10 Horrifying Facts About The Black Death

One of the deadliest pandemics in human history was recorded between 1347 and 1351. It was called The Black Death, more often referred to as the Bubonic Plague. Its impact was very devastating with millions of lives lost across Europe and and entire towns crushed. Scientific studies revealed that it was caused by the Bacterium  Yersinia pestis and transmitted through fleas that are infested rats. The disease had significant impact in all aspects of life and that is the reason we need to go down memory lane and learn more about this strange disease.

On the positive side, the impact of the disease contributed to establishment of medical schools and institutions due to demand for more skilled health workers. Here are ten horrifying facts about the Black Death that will give you a glimpse into the devastation caused by this deadly disease.

1. Millions Of People Lost Their Lives After Contracting The Black Death Disease.

Bubonic plague victims in a mass grave in Martigues, France.Author S. Tzortzis.

It is difficult to give the exact number of individuals that perished from the Black Plague, although estimates range from 75 to 200 million people worldwide. According to some estimates, it is dishertening to learn that up to 60% of the population of Europe may have perished as a result of the pandemic. This in turn had a significant impact on the socio-economic fabric of the continent and the world at large.

2. The Black Death Was Caused By The Bacterium Yersinia pestis

A bacteria known as Yersinia pestis, which is predominantly transmitted by the bites of infected fleas that dwelt on rats, was the root cause of the Black Death. Moreover, the bacterium may be spread by coming into contact with human fluids or tissues that are contaminated, such as blood or pus from buboes. Yersinia pestis is a bacterium that can produce a variety of symptoms, including as fever, chills, muscle aches, and the development of painful, enlarged lymph nodes known as buboes. It is also extremely contagious and fatal. Without fast and efficient medical care, the condition could quickly deteriorate and result in sepsis, organ failure, and death.

3. The Disease Was Transmitted Through Fleas That Infested Rats

Officials and health workers inspect a mound of dead rats. During the bubonic plague of 1900 – 1902 rats, the worst carriers of the dread disease, were destroyed by the thousands. Author State Library of Queensland, Australia.

It is said that the mode of transmission of this deadly disease was through the bite from ‘ flea-infested rats that were very rampant during the Middle Ages. These rats were the carriers of  the bacterium , Yersinia pestis.  Once the illness had established itself in a population, it spreads quickly through contact between people as well. 

4. The Disease affects Most Parts Of The Body

Right hand of a plague patient displaying acral gangrene. Gangrene is one of the manifestations of plague. Author Photo Credit:.

The abrupt onset of fever, chills, exhaustion, and muscle aches were common Black Death symptoms. Patients occasionally also reported having digestive problems such nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The development of painful, swollen lymph nodes, known as buboes, which could arise in the groin, armpit, or neck, was one of the disease’s most recognizable symptoms. They were packed with pus and blood and might grow to be as big as apples. Respiratory distress, sepsis, and organ failure may also be signs of the illness. The disease may advance quickly, with many people passing away just a few days after first showing symptoms.

5. The Black Death had a significant impact on All Aspects Of Life

The Black Plague had a profound effect on music, literature, and art throughout the time it was there, and its effects can still be felt in contemporary cultural expressions. The epidemic caused a fascination with death and illness themes, which became recurring topics throughout the period’s art and literature. Skeletons, skulls, and other frightening motifs might be found in a lot of historical works of art, including paintings and illuminated manuscripts. Similar to how the literature of the time frequently included detailed depictions of the disease’s symptoms and effects, several authors even wrote their own tales of the epidemic. Dirges and funeral songs started to appear more frequently in the music of the era, which also mirrored the depressing mood of the time. Globally, the

6. The disease had a profound impact on medicine

Medicine. Photo by amjd rdwan on

On a positive side, the disease led to demand for more skilled health professionals due to its rapid spread and loss of lives. This in turn the medical fraternity to rethink the strategies of combating the disease and avoid futures fatalities of the same nature. With time it led to the creation of new procedures and organizations that would influence modern healthcare. The employment of quarantine measures came to being. It was aimed at isolating people who were ill or at danger of being infected by the disease. It has since become an important pillar in preventive medicine and was even used widely during the recent covid19 pandemic.

7. It Contributed To The Establishment Of Medical Schools 

The Black Death was a blessing in disbuise as it revolutionized the field of medicine that was initially a preserve for a few. Suddently, there was need for more skilled healthcare professions which led to  the establishment of medical schools and institutions, One of the earliest of these institutions was the University of Salerno in Italy, which became a center for medical education and research during the Middle Ages. 

8. The Black Death was a truly global phenomenon

Despite being mostly identified with Europe, the Black Death had a significant worldwide influence and outbreaks also happened in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Prior to moving west through commerce and transit routes, the pandemic is believed to have started in Central Asia. Following that, it traveled to the Middle East, where it wiped off populations in towns like Baghdad and Damascus. Afterwards it moved to North Africa, where it had tremendous impact on towns like Cairo and Tunis. The plague decimated populations in Asia, particularly in China, India, and other nations in the continent. According to some estimates, up to one-third of China’s population may have perished as a result of the sickness. Despite the fact that the Black Plague is mostly associated with Europe.

9. The pandemic led to the emergence of new religious movements

During the Middle Ages, the Black Plague had a significant impact on religious activities in Europe, giving rise to new religious movements and ideologies. The most renowned of these movements was the Flagellants, who saw the illness to be God’s retribution for humanity’s crimes. The Flagellants had the idea that by self-punishing themselves, such as by flogging themselves, they could atone for their transgressions and stop the disease from spreading. Large numbers of followers flocked to the movement at the height of the pandemic, flagellating themselves in public as a form of penance as they marched through cities and villages. The Catholic Church frequently viewed the Flagellants with mistrust and contempt because it saw their

10. The Black Death Led To The Decline Of The Mongol Empire

The Mongol Empire was already in a state of decline before the arrival of the Black Death, due to a combination of internal political struggles, economic difficulties, and external pressures from other empires and kingdoms. The Black Death played a role in the decline of the Mongol Empire, which was one of the largest and most powerful empires in history. A significant proportion of the Mongol population was lost including many of the Mongol rulers and other elite, and weakened the army as well as the local economies.

Overall, while the Black Death was not the sole cause of the decline of the Mongol Empire, it likely played a significant role in the empire’s eventual collapse.