The Black Death (Encore) - Everything Everywhere Daily: History, Science, Geography & More

Summary

Everything Everywhere Daily: The Black Death (Encore) – Detailed Summary

Release Date: January 6, 2025
Host: Gary Arndt | Glassbox Media

Introduction

In this encore episode of Everything Everywhere Daily, host Gary Arndt delves deep into one of history's most devastating pandemics: the Black Death. Gary masterfully unpacks the origins, spread, and profound impact of the bubonic plague that reshaped societies across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa during the 14th century.

Origins and Causes of the Black Death

Gary begins by defining the Black Death as a bubonic plague pandemic that ravaged the world between approximately 1346 and 1353. He explains that the disease is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, primarily transmitted through flea bites and direct contact with infected animals.

"Bubonic plague is a bacterial disease caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis... The most notable symptom is the appearance of one or more swollen, tender and painful lymph nodes, usually found in the groin, armpit or neck" ([01:49]).

He distinguishes between the three types of plague—bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic—highlighting their varying transmission methods and mortality rates.

Spread of the Plague

Gary explores how the Black Death spread rapidly across continents, comparing it to other pandemics in history.

"The Black Death... was like a single bomb that devastated much of Europe and the Middle East during a single decade" ([02:30]).

He traces the disease's journey from its suspected origins in the grassy steppes of Asia or China, facilitated by the expansion of the Mongol Empire and trade routes. The movement of Genoese traders fleeing the siege of Kaffa to Constantinople played a pivotal role in introducing the plague to Europe.

"In 1345 and 1346, the Mongols laid siege to the city by tossing plague-ridden corpses into it" ([03:10]).

The presence of rats on ships vastly accelerated the disease's transmission, culminating in catastrophic outbreaks in cities like Florence, where up to 90% of the population perished.

Impact and Mortality

The sheer mortality rate of the Black Death set it apart from other pandemics. Gary provides stark comparisons:

"Bubonic plague... had mortality rates between 30 to 90% and death would often occur in less than 10 days after symptoms appeared" ([04:15]).

He emphasizes the unprecedented death toll, noting that Europe lost between 30% to 60% of its population, with total global deaths estimated between 25 million to 75 million.

Theories Behind High Mortality Rates

Gary discusses various theories explaining the Black Death's lethality:

Bacterial Mutation:
"One theory holds that the bacteria mutated somewhere between Central Asia and Europe" ([07:00]).
Secondary Pandemics:
The presence of anthrax alongside the plague could have exacerbated death rates.
Poor Hygiene and Living Conditions:
Overcrowded cities with open sewers and rampant rat infestations created ideal conditions for the plague's spread.
Lack of Medical Knowledge:
Without the germ theory of disease, misconceptions about transmission hindered effective responses.

"The prevailing theory was that of miasma... doctors at the time wore long beak-shaped headdresses that were thought to keep the miasma away" ([06:45]).

Societal Responses and Superstitions

In the absence of scientific understanding, societies resorted to various explanations and scapegoats:

"Many Christian theologians thought that the plague was a punishment from God and that those who suffered shouldn't be treated because they were sinners" ([07:30]).

Jews were falsely accused of poisoning wells, leading to widespread persecution and the destruction of nearly 200 Jewish communities across Europe. Additionally, individuals with leprosy faced brutal attacks due to suspicions of them being the disease's source.

Aftermath and Long-term Effects

The Black Death fundamentally altered the social and economic fabric of Europe:

Labor Shortages:
The massive loss of life led to a scarcity of workers, empowering serfs to seek better opportunities and negotiate higher wages.
Economic Shifts:
With fewer people to cultivate the land, agricultural practices changed, and industries evolved to adapt to the new labor dynamics.
Institutional Changes:
The Catholic Church's authority was questioned as it failed to provide explanations or relief, leading to a gradual decline in its influence.
Advancements in Medicine:
The inadequacy of traditional medicine prompted the slow development of scientifically based medical practices.

"Traditional medicine proved to be a failure, and the long process of developing scientifically based modern medicine began" ([11:10]).

Genetic Impact and Resistance

Gary touches upon the genetic legacy of the Black Death:

"One genetic analysis showed that prior to the Black Death, about 0.2% of Europeans had genes that could resist the disease. Today, the number... is approximately 15%." ([09:20]).

Survivors with genetic resistance passed these traits to subsequent generations, significantly increasing the prevalence of resistance among people of European descent.

Continued Occurrences of Bubonic Plague

Despite its historical significance, bubonic plague persists in isolated cases today, albeit without reaching the pandemic proportions of the Black Death.

Gary notes several outbreaks post-14th century, including:

The Great Plague of London (1665-1666).
Epidemics in Yunnan Province, China (1855), killing 15 million in China and India.
Modern Cases:
Outbreaks in regions like the American Southwest, Australia, Madagascar, India, and China continue sporadically.

"If bubonic plague is diagnosed early, it can be easily treated" ([12:30]).

He asserts that the likelihood of another Black Death-style pandemic is negligible today due to advances in medicine, sanitation, and disease control.

Conclusion

Gary encapsulates the enduring legacy of the Black Death, emphasizing its role as a historical watershed moment that reshaped societies, economies, and medical understanding.

"The world after the Black Death was completely changed... the overall standard of living actually went up, assuming you had managed to survive." ([10:50])

He hints at a forthcoming episode that will further explore the extensive socio-economic and cultural transformations initiated by the pandemic.

Production Credits

Executive Producer: Charles Daniel
Associate Producers: Benji Long and Cameron Keever

Gary extends heartfelt thanks to Patreon supporters and encourages listeners to join the Everything Everywhere Daily community on Facebook and Discord for deeper engagement.

This comprehensive exploration by Gary Arndt provides listeners with a nuanced understanding of the Black Death's catastrophic impact and its lasting effects on human history. Whether you're an avid history enthusiast or a casual learner, this episode offers valuable insights into one of humanity's most challenging epochs.

Transcript

Gary (0:00)

The following is an encore presentation of Everything Everywhere daily. During the 14th century, the world saw one of its most traumatic episodes. A plague spread through Asia, Europe, the Middle east, and North Africa that was unlike anything the world had ever seen. In some locations, over half the population died. Those who survived found themselves in a new world where the social and economic rules had been totally changed. Learn more about the Black Death, how it happened, and how it changed the world on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. Yeah, sure thing. Hey, you sold that car yet?

Jessica (0:50)

Yeah, sold it to Carvana.

Gary (0:52)

Oh, I thought you were selling to that guy.

Jessica (0:55)

The guy who wanted to pay me in foreign currency, no interest, over 36 months.

Gary (1:00)

Yeah, no.

Jessica (1:01)

Carvana gave me an offer in minutes, picked it up and paid me on the spot. It was so convenient.

Gary (1:07)

Just like that. Yep. No hassle?

Jessica (1:09)

None.

Gary (1:10)

That is super convenient. Sell your car to Carvana and swap hassle. For convenience, pickup fees may apply.

Jessica (1:17)

This episode is brought to you by State Farm. You might say all kinds of stuff when things go wrong, but these are the words you really need to remember. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. They've got options to fit your unique insurance needs, meaning you can talk to your agent to choose the coverage you need. Have coverage options to protect the things you value most, file a claim right on the State Farm mobile app, and even reach a real person when you need to talk to someone. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

Gary (1:49)

It is difficult to convey just how big of an impact the Black Death had on the world, and especially Europe. The Black Death wasn't like a war. As terrible as a war might be, losses are usually limited to the battlefield, and it may result in a new leader, but it probably wouldn't necessarily have affected the average person who lived in a village. The Black Death, however, affected everyone. You couldn't hide from it. It impacted the rich and poor alike. Those who survived found themselves in a completely different world than the one they had lived in before. In a very real sense, you can think of the Black Death as a dividing line in history. It is arguably the worst pandemic in world history, depending on how you define it. The great dying of the Americas, which took place after the arrival of Europeans to the New World, resulted in a dramatic drop in population size by as much as 90%. However, the great dying took place over a period of one to two centuries. It was a multigenerational affair, and it didn't take place everywhere at once. And it wasn't a single pandemic of a single disease. The Black Death however, was like a single bomb that devastated much of Europe and the Middle east during a single decade. Before we get into the details of the Black Death, I should explain exactly what it was and what caused it. The Black Death was a bubonic plague pandemic that took place between approximately 1346 and 1353. Bubonic plague is a bacterial disease caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis. The bacteria normally can be found in small mammals and the fleas that live on them. The bacteria is usually transmitted through flea bites and through the handling of infected animals. Bubonic plague is a particularly nasty disease with a very high mortality rate. People who are infected usually begin to show symptoms after two to six days. The most notable symptom is the appearance of one or more swollen, tender and painful lymph nodes, usually found in the groin, armpit or neck. Inflamed lymph nodes are also known as buboes, which is where the name bubonic plague is derived. There are actually three different types of plagues that all stem from the Yersinia pestis, bubonic plague, septicemic plague and pneumonic plague. Each plague type can develop depending on the location of the infection and the way it was transmitted. And one plague type can also morph into another. What makes bubonic plague so dangerous is its exceptionally high mortality rate. To put it into perspective, the SARS CoV2 virus that caused the recent pandemic had an overall mortality rate of less than 1%, with significant variation between age groups and people with pre existing conditions. Smallpox had a mortality rate of 20 to 30% for the most common strain of the virus. Bubonic plague, however, had mortality rates between 30 to 90% and death would often occur in less than 10 days after symptoms appeared. That was why the Black Death was so terrifying. If someone showed symptoms, they could be dead in just a few days after suffering excruciating pain. So how did this bacteria, carried by fleas, manage to cause the worst pandemic in human history? Needless to say, data and record keeping in the 14th century wasn't great. So what we know of the origins of the disease and its spread has been determined through historical research and microbiological detective work. It's thought that the bacterians originated in either the grassy steppes of Asia or possibly China. There it was passed from small animals that had little contact with humans. What human contact there was was mostly amongst nomadic tribes who kept their distance from other people. With the rise of the Mongol Empire, however, these pathogens now had a vector outside of the steppes. Over a period of decades, the bacteria, probably carried by rats, made its way out of the steppes through through trade routes until it eventually made its way onto ships. The plague of Justinian, which took place in the seventh century, of which I've done a previous episode, might have been an outbreak of bubonic plague, or it might have been smallpox. There may have been outbreaks of bubonic plague in Asia before it reached Europe. There were epidemics in China from 1308 to 1347, but they were often attributed to diseases that spread in the aftermath of floods and famine. Likewise, there were multiple epidemics during the Yuan dynasty up to concurrent with and after the Black Death in Europe. Many of these outbreaks were just as bad as what happened in Europe. But we don't know if this was bubonic plague. If it was in fact bubonic plague, then the disease spread in ways very different than the disease spread in Europe, and it may have been a different strain of the bacteria. The epidemics in this period of Chinese history were certainly important, but I'm going to leave those for a future episode. The first recorded case in Europe supposedly came from Genoese traders who came from the port of Kaffa, located in the Crimean peninsula, which at the time was controlled by the Mongol golden horde. In 1345 and 1346, the Mongols laid siege to the city by tossing plague ridden corpses into it. When the plague took hold, the Genoese fled the city and arrived in Constantinople, where the plague arrived with them in the summer of 1347. And I should note that rats were common on ships in this era and they allowed for far more rapid transmission of the disease than otherwise would have been possible. In Constantinople, the plague actually killed the 13 year old Byzantine emperor and then it began spreading to other trading cities. The Genoese crew finally arrived in Sicily at the port of Messina. When they docked, dock workers found the ship filled with dead or infected sailors. They immediately sent the ship away, but the damage had already been done. The plague ravaged Sicily and began to spread throughout Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. One of the big questions was how it managed to spread so fast. If the only transmission vector was fleas on rats, it should not have spread as fast as it did. One theory holds that the disease was also spread from person to person. It might have gone airborne, as bubonic plague can develop into pneumonic plague, which is an infection of the lungs. If people spread it, then it could have been transmitted back to fleas and lice. By infected people. Nonetheless, it spread rapidly and the results were devastating. When it arrived in a town or village, the death tolls were sometimes astronomical. In the city of Florence, Italy, 90% of the population died. There were so many dead that there weren't enough living to bury the dead. There were villages in France that were completely wiped out to the last person. The villages became reclaimed by nature, and it was only through modern observational techniques that the villages were eventually discovered. Not every community had death tolls that were that high, but even when they weren't that high, they were still astounding compared to any other pandemic. There are modern theories as well as to why the pandemic was so deadly. One theory holds that the bacteria mutated somewhere between Central Asia and Europe. Samples of plague bacteria have been found in Kazakhstan, and they differ genetically from those found in Europe. A second theory holds that there may have been a secondary pandemic taking place alongside the plague. Anthrax has been found in the graves of plague victims. If anthrax had been spreading along with the plague, it would have resulted in a deadly double whammy that would have been almost impossible to recover from. Other reasons had to do with the conditions of the time. Hygiene was horrible. Cities and villages were often open sewers which were breeding grounds for rats. People seldom bathed and lice was very common. Fleas often lived in clothing and bedding that people used. Regardless of the reason, no one had a clue why this was happening or what caused the disease. The germ theory of disease didn't exist at the time and wouldn't for almost another 500 years. Various theories were floated, all of which, if they were offered up today, would be considered medical quackery. The prevailing theory was that of miasma. Miasma was thought to be vapors in the air that caused the disease. And doctors at the time wore long beak shaped headdresses that were thought to keep the miasma away. While miasma was the dominant theory amongst European physicians, It was far from universal. Many people pointed to supernatural explanations. Many Christian theologians thought that the plague was a punishment from God and that those who suffered shouldn't be treated because they were sinners. Over in the Middle East, Islamic scholars thought that Allah sent the plague to bring people into paradise, and for that reason, doctors shouldn't treat patients. There were also conspiracies. A popular target in Europe were Jews. They were accused of poisoning wells, which supposedly caused the pandemic. This resulted in widespread persecution of Jews, with almost 200 Jewish communities being destroyed across the continent. Many Jews eventually migrated to Poland, where King Casimir III welcomed them. People with leprosy were often attacked, as they were thought to be the cause of the illness. Because of the staggering number of dead, burial practices changed everywhere. Cremation was a practice that had largely ceased with the rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire, but it returned as a way to destroy corpses. Likewise, mass graves became a necessity because digging individual graves was no longer possible because there was nobody to dig the graves. Eventually, the Black Death began to burn itself out. Those who survived either had a natural or acquired immunity to the disease. Also, the bacteria once again mutated into a more benign form, as highly lethal pathogens tend to do, lest they ran out of hosts in which they can spread. One genetic analysis showed that prior to the Black Death, about 0.2% of Europeans had genes that could resist the disease. Today, the number of people of European descent with that genetic resistance is is approximately 15%. This is almost entirely due to survivors being able to pass down that genetic trait. The world after the Black Death was one that was completely changed. In fact, I'm probably going to do a follow up episode at some point about just how much the Black Death changed the social, economic and cultural institutions that existed at the time. Suffice it to say, there weren't as many people, which resulted in labor shortages. Serfs who were previously tied to the land where they worked just up and left for better opportunities. Wages rose, and in the years immediately following the Black Death, the overall standard of living actually went up, assuming you had managed to survive. Likewise, institutions like the Catholic Church went through changes. Traditional medicine proved to be a failure, and the long process of developing scientifically based modern medicine began. There were peasant revolts and governments changed, usually in the form of weakening local lords. One of the things that may shock people is that bubonic plague is not a thing of the past. There were many pandemics of the plague after the Black Death, and there are still cases that arise today. However, none of these cases were ever as bad as the Black Death. The Great Plague of London broke out in 1665 and 1666. In 1855, an epidemic broke out in the Yunnan Province of China, which eventually spread to India, killing 15 million people in the two countries. In 1894, there was an outbreak in Hong Kong, and smaller outbreaks occurred in 1900 in San Francisco and 1924 in Los Angeles. As recently as 1994, an outbreak of bubonic plague in India resulted in over 700 infections and 52 deaths. Even in the 21st century, there are cases of bubonic plague that still occasionally appear. Every year, a handful of cases appear in diverse places such as the American Southwest, Australia, Madagascar, India and China. The odds of another bubonic plague pandemic occurring are pretty close to zero. We now know what causes the disease, how to treat it and how to stop its spread. Hygiene is also much better today than it was in the past, meaning the conditions for its spread no longer exist. If bubonic plague is diagnosed early, it can be easily treated. The Black Death is considered to be the worst pandemic in human history. The global death toll from it ranges from 25 million to as high as 75 million. The wide range is due to the poor record keeping of the time. That loss of life resulted in a loss of population just in Europe of between 30 to 60% of the entire population. The drop in population was so great that it took over 200 years for population levels to return to the levels that from before the Black Death. The executive producer of Everything Everywhere Daily is Charles Daniel. The associate producers are Benji Long and Cameron Keever. I want to give a big shout out to everyone who supports the show over on Patreon, including the show's producers. Your support helps me put out a show every single day and also Patreon is currently the only place where Everything Everywhere Daily merchandise is available to the top tier of supporters. If you'd like to talk to other listeners of the show and members of the Completionist Club, you can join the Everything Everywhere Daily Facebook group or Discord server. Links to Everything are in the show Notes.