The Plague

The Plague

The plague was a terrible disease which killed between 75 and 200 million people in the 14th century.  It was spread by fleas carried on the backs of black rats and originated in the arid flatlands of central Asia.  It traveled west along the trade routes and Silk Road. Rats love to stowaway in ships and food containers.  It entered the market town of Caffa when the Mongols put the walled city under siege.  They catapulted the bodies of their dead over the walls. This infected the inhabitants and helping them to take control of the area.

Many of the inhabitants fled north into Europe, taking the disease with them and spreading it into Europe.  The death rate was 100% before the advent of modern antibiotics which successfully treat the disease.

In the medieval times many believed that the affliction was sent by god as a punishment for their sins. People would attempt to protect themselves from the disease by whipping themselves.  Once infected they would often tie live toads and chickens to their inflamed groins to help their buboes to burst. They believed this would help to cure them of the disease.

Nowadays the the threat of the plague has passed but we do need to protect our property from rats chewing it and breaking it.  They destroy car wiring, food stock and other expensive and valuable materials and possessions.