Oh, no! That flea is probably carrying the Black Death! You will die in days!
Ew, a flea!!
Ouch, it bit me!
Slayt: 2
She's in terrible shape, Sir. She may not make it to tomorrow. She has many oozing welts. She's very weak. I'm so sorry.
My only daughter! There must be a way to save her! What is her sickness?
It's called the Black Death. There is no cure. I would give up while I can, Sir. Thousands have already died.
Slayt: 3
The Black Death spread from Asia to Europe, leaving chaos. Some estimates imply that it wiped away more than half of Europe's population. It was caused by a strain ofYersinia pestis, which is probably extinct now, and was transmitted by fleas on affected rats. The victims' remains were dumped in mass graves.The epidemic affected the direction of European history. With so many dead, labor became scarce, resulting in higher wages for laborers and the end of Europe's slave labor system. According to studies, surviving workers had access to more meat and higher-quality bread. The scarcity of inexpensive laboralso led to technical advancement.