The Black Death

What happened

Carried west along trade routes from Central Asia, the Black Death — a plague caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis — reached Europe in 1347. Over the next five years it killed an estimated one-third or more of the continent's population, perhaps tens of millions of people.

Why it matters

The deadliest pandemic in European history upended society: labour grew scarce and wages rose, faith in the Church was shaken, and the old feudal order began to break down.

Sources

• World History Encyclopedia. Black Death · Reputable source