Black Death Timeline Flashcards
What strain of Y. pestis emerges in 1346?
The strain of Y. pestis emerges in Mongolia, possibly passed to humans by a tarabagan, a type of marmot.
What event occurs in the Mongol capital of Sarai?
The deadliest outbreak of the plague occurs, which the Mongols carry west to the Black Sea area.
What happens during the siege of Caffa?
Janiberg’s army lays siege for a year but is stricken with an outbreak, leading to infected bodies being catapulted over city walls.
What is the outcome for survivors in Caffa in May 1347?
Survivors escape by sea, leaving behind streets covered with corpses, and one ship arrives in Constantinople, which loses up to 90 percent of its population.
What happens when a Caffan ship docks in Sicily in October 1347?
The plague kills half the population and spreads to Messina, leading to one-third of mainland Italy’s population dead by the following summer.
How does the plague enter France in November 1347?
The plague arrives in France via a Caffa ship docking in Marseille and spreads quickly through the country.
What occurs in January 1348 regarding plague strains?
A different plague strain enters Europe through Genoa, while Italy battles the previous strain.
What organized response does Venice implement?
Venice pioneers the first organized response, including ship inspections and burning those with contagions, but still loses 60 percent of its population.
What anti-Semitic actions occur in April 1348?
The plague awakens anti-Semitic rage, leading to massacres of Jewish communities, starting in Provence.
How does the plague spread to England in June 1348?
The plague enters England through the port of Melcombe Regis, spreading as some flee inland.
Who are the Flagellants and what do they do?
The Flagellants are religious zealots who appear in Germany, marching and thrashing themselves, originally a practice of 11th-century Italian monks.
What happens in October 1348 related to King Edward III?
The plague reaches London following the infection and death of Princess Joan, leading to mass flight to the countryside.
What massacre occurs on Valentine’s Day in February 1349?
One of the worst massacres of Jews takes place in Strasbourg, with 2,000 Jewish people burned alive.
What is the impact of the plague in Wales in April 1349?
The plague hits Wales, brought by fleeing people from Southern England, eventually killing 100,000.
How does the plague reach Norway in July 1349?
An English ship brings the Black Death to Norway, leading to its spread to Denmark and Sweden.
