IMPAct of the bubonic plague
Eliana Yamouni
College Board theme: Interactions Between Humans and the
Environment
The Bubonic Plague in the 14th century relates to this college board theme because it shows how a disease that originated in animals (the environment) can deeply impact a population (the humans).
Origin:
- started in the Yunnan region of Southwest China
- initially spread between rodents
- fleas began seeking human hosts after a decrease in rodent population
Spread:
- 14th century Mongul campaign aided in spreading the disease into the interior of China
- By 1331, about 90% of the population in the Chinese Hebei province had been killed by the disease
- By 1350, 2/3 of all the Chinese population had passed away due to Bubonic plague
- Bubonic Plague then began spreading along trade routs and in oasis and popular trading cities (especially those with many domestic animals)
- 1346, disease spread to Caffa and Tana (Black Sea ports)
- 1347, merchants spread the disease through the Mediterranean Basin
- 1348, widespread of the disease occurred in West Europe
- In general, the disease killed approximately 60%-70% of those infected with it
Other facts:
- Bubonic Plague had little effect on Scandinavia and India
- It takes about a century or more for an area to recover from the demographic consequences of the Bubonic Plague
- Negative effects of the disease outbreak include labor shortages, and demand for higher wages
|
|
Comparison:
14th century Bubonic plague (A) VS 2nd & 3rd Century Disease epidemic (B)
- Both were notorious for killing large populations
-Bubonic Plague killed about 2/3 of the 14th century Chinese population
-Measles and Small Pox killed about 25% of the post-classical Chinese and Roman populations
- While Bubonic Plague put a pause to the success of the 14th century Chinese population, West Rome did not recover from the Measles and Smalls Pox epidemic (causing it to collapse)
