Volcanic eruptions could have introduced Black Death to Europe

New research suggests that previously unrecorded volcanic eruptions could have set off a chain of events that ultimately brought the Black Deaththe deadliest pandemic in human historyto medieval Europe. The bubonic plague wiped out tens of millions of people, with some regions losing up to 60 percent of their population during the mid-14th century.

The origin and rapid spread of the disease across Europe have long puzzled historians and scientists. Recent findings from researchers studying tree rings indicate that a volcanic eruption might have been the initial trigger. By examining tree rings from Spains Pyrenees mountains, they found evidence that southern Europe experienced unusually cold and wet summers between 1345 and 1347.

Cross-referencing this climate data with historical records, the researchers concluded that reduced sunlight from one or more volcanic eruptions in 1345 likely caused temperatures to drop. The resulting poor harvests led to widespread crop failures and the onset of famine.

Italian city-states, including Venice, Genoa, and Pisa, had established extensive trade networks across the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, which initially helped mitigate starvation by importing grain. However, these trade routes also inadvertently facilitated the arrival of the plague. Grain shipments from the Mongol-controlled Golden Horde in Central Asia are believed to have carried rats infested with fleas harboring Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for the plague. Over the following six years, between 25 and 50 million people perished.

While the outbreak involved a combination of natural, economic, political, and demographic factors, researchers argue that the previously unknown volcanic eruption played a crucial role in setting the stage for one of historys deadliest catastrophes. "Although the coincidence of factors that contributed to the Black Death seems rare, the likelihood of zoonotic diseases turning into pandemics under climate change is rising in todays interconnected world," said Ulf Buentgen, co-author of the study from Cambridge University.

The study was published in Communications Earth & Environment.

Author: Harper Simmons