Black Death

Definition

The Black Death refers to a devastating pandemic that occurred in the 14th century, resulting in the widespread outbreak of bubonic plague across Europe. It caused massive loss of life and had significant social and economic impacts.

Related terms

Pandemic: A pandemic refers to an outbreak of a disease that affects people over a large geographic area. For example, COVID-19 is a current global pandemic.

Bubonic Plague: Bubonic plague is a severe bacterial infection transmitted by fleas that infest rats. It was one of the deadliest forms of the Black Death.

Epidemic: An epidemic refers to an outbreak of a disease that affects people within a specific community or region. In contrast to pandemics, epidemics are more localized in nature.