Second plague pandemic

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Paul Fürst, Der Doctor Schnabel von Rom (coloured version)

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20 The Great Plague

1346-1353 spread of the Black Death in Europe map

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Wien Graben Pestsäule Ostseite

Marseille-peste-Serre

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Micco Spadaro - Largo Mercatello durante la peste a Napoli (1656)

The Second Plague Pandemic was a devastating global outbreak of bubonic plague that started with the Black Death in 1347 and lasted until the early 18th century. This pandemic had a profound impact on the course of European and world history, leading to widespread mortality, social upheaval, and significant changes in the structure of society.

Origins and Spread

The pandemic is believed to have originated in Asia, possibly in the steppes of Central Asia or China, from where it spread along the Silk Road and reached the Crimea by 1347. The disease was carried by fleas living on black rats that were common on merchant ships. Ports being the hubs of trade and commerce facilitated the rapid spread of the plague to Europe, North Africa, and the Near East.

Impact

The Second Plague Pandemic had a catastrophic impact on the population of Europe, with estimates suggesting that between 30% and 60% of Europe's population died within the first few years of the outbreak. The pandemic caused significant economic, social, and religious upheavals. Labor shortages led to economic changes, with surviving workers demanding higher wages, which some historians see as a factor in the eventual decline of the feudal system.

The pandemic also had a profound effect on the culture and art of the period, with themes of death and mortality becoming more prevalent. Public health measures, including the establishment of quarantine zones and the isolation of affected individuals, were implemented in an attempt to control the spread of the disease.

Recurrent Outbreaks

After the initial pandemic wave, the plague returned to Europe in several waves throughout the 14th to the 17th centuries. Notable subsequent outbreaks include the Italian Plague of 1629-1631, the Great Plague of London in 1665-1666, and the Great Plague of Marseille in 1720. Each outbreak caused significant mortality and continued to shape the social and economic landscape of Europe.

Scientific Understanding and Decline

The causative agent of the plague, Yersinia pestis, was identified in the late 19th century, which led to a better understanding of the disease and how it spreads. Improvements in sanitation, the decline of the population of black rats in Europe, and the development of antibiotics in the 20th century have made plague outbreaks rare in the modern era.

Legacy

The Second Plague Pandemic has left a lasting legacy on the world, influencing the development of public health policies and practices. It also serves as a reminder of the impact infectious diseases can have on human society.