\[ **BT: [[history--Europe]] | plague and pestilence** ] --- # Black Death The Black Death was a pandemic in [[history--Europe#medieval Europe (500 – 1500 CE)|medieval Europe]] lasting from 1347–1351.[^1] The Black Death is widely believed to have been the result of plague caused by infection with the bacterium Yersinia pestis.[^2] Frequently claimed to have originated in [[China]] (and spread via the [[Silk Road]] and/or explorer [[Zheng He]]).[^3] However, DNA evidence suggests an origin point of central Asia, not China.[^4] [^1]: ‘Black Death’, Britannica (online), last updated 26 May 2024, <https://www.britannica.com/event/Black-Death>. [^2]: ‘Black Death’, Britannica (online), last updated 26 May 2024. [^3]: ‘Black Death’, Britannica (online), last updated 26 May 2024. [^4]: Julia Hollingsworth, ‘[[Hollingsworth, ‘A History of the Plague in China, from Ancient Times to Mao – and Now’, 2019|A History of the Plague in China, from Ancient Times to Mao – and Now]]’, CNN World, updated 23 November 2019, [https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/23/asia/plague-china-history-intl-hnk-scli](https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/23/asia/plague-china-history-intl-hnk-scli).