Origins of The Black Death
The 14th century is probably the darkest time in history. The Black Death was the most infectious disease in human history. The infamous pandemic swamped for over 500 years, which gave its name, Second Plague Pandemic. The origins of the Black Death has been a subject of debate for several years. Ever since its first appearance in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa took over in the 14th century.
The black death was caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. It lasted in Europe between 1346 and 1353 before hovering towards the Middle East and North Africa. However, this was based on mere hypothetical decisions. No one knows the exact origins of the plague but scientists are rummaging on a few findings. Calling the black death an exaggeration would be a sheer travesty. In 2017, a team of scientists co-led by Maria Spyrou at the University of Tubingen came across findings from a cemetery in northern Kyrgyzstan.
Plague historians are divided by a knowledge gap or hiatus over the exact origins of the plague. Some believe it spans roughly Central Asia, Mongolia, and China. Other historians view the origins entirely from Central Asia, and some regions of the Tian-Shan. An evergreen mountain area between China and Kyrgyzstan is believed to be the origin of the Black death. One infamous report from a researcher suggests that the cause of the pandemic was a result of some cosmic shift in the universe.
In 2013, after studying the chronological findings of the pandemic, a team of microbiologists deciphered the main plague lineage which was known as Branch zero. Branch zero is mutated and divided into four parts. Branches 1-4 were called the “Great Polytomy” or “Big Bang.” These strains were responsible for the black death. The Y.pestis bacterium may have been housed in the Tibetan-Qinghai Plateau in Asia.
From the works of these microbiologists, the plague expanded thanks to the uprising of the Mongol Empire. According to a recent study, a team of international researchers sought to analyze the genetic basis of human remains. They also gathered some historical and archaeological evidence from two sites known to contain “pestilence” inscriptions.
The tombstone was inscribed with an ancient language described to be of Syrian origins.
Since the discovery, it has been a focal point of controversy. The first results were positive and encouraging. Data was taken from the teeth and other skeletal parts of the corpse. The DNA from the bacterium, Yersinia pestis was found in the remains of the bodies of individuals with the year 1338 inscribed on their tombstones. A senior author and historian at the University of Sterling mentioned, “We could finally show that the epidemic mentioned on the tombstones was indeed caused by the plague.”
To understand the intricacies and complexities of the spread, the environmental factors and geographical locations should be considered. Though the main cause of the plague has been identified, other questions and evidence are being considered. Some of them include:
● Where could the strain have come from?
● What rodent or animal housed the strain and who was its first contact?
Researchers and scientists are still resilient in tracking down these hidden facts about the deadlines plague in world history.
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