Volcanic eruption linked to Black Death

Researchers now suggest that the catastrophic Black Death, which swept through Europe during the Middle Ages, was indirectly triggered by volcanic eruptions. These eruptions released ash and gases into the atmosphere, lowering temperatures for several consecutive years and causing widespread crop failures throughout the Mediterranean region.

Experts from the University of Cambridge examined ancient tree rings and identified unusually cold and wet summers in 1345, 1346, and 1347 across southern Europe, immediately preceding the outbreak of the plague.

In response to these food shortages, Italian city-states began importing grain from the Black Sea area. This trade inadvertently introduced fleas carrying Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for the Black Death. Prof. Ulf Bntgen of Cambridges Department of Geography noted, Understanding the triggers and spread of the Black Death, and why it occurred at this particular time and place, is a complex question requiring multiple perspectives.

While importing grain helped prevent famine, it also allowed the plague to establish a foothold in Europe. Dr. Martin Bauch, a historian at the Leibniz Institute for the History and Culture of Eastern Europe, explained that the sophisticated trade networks of Italian maritime republics such as Venice, Genoa, and Pisa, although designed to avoid starvation, ultimately contributed to a much larger disaster.

Origins and Spread of the Plague

The Black Death, one of historys deadliest pandemics, struck Europe from 1346 to 1353, killing an estimated 75 to 200 million people, nearly 60% of the population. While previous research connected the spread to ships carrying Black Sea grain, the reason behind the urgent need for imports remained unclear.

New findings indicate that volcanic-induced climate changes caused poor harvests and famine. In 1347, the Italian city-states imported grain from the Mongol territories near the Sea of Azov. Plague-infected fleas on these shipments then spread the disease rapidly through Mediterranean ports, eventually engulfing Europe. Cities such as Milan and Rome, which did not rely on imported grain, largely avoided the initial outbreak.

Prof. Bntgen highlighted the lasting legacy of the Black Death, saying, Evidence of the plague remains visible in European towns even 800 years later. For example, Cambridges Corpus Christi College was founded after the local community was devastated by the epidemic, with similar cases found across the continent.

The study emphasizes that a combination of climate, agriculture, societal, and economic factors created a perfect storm leading to the Black Death, offering an early example of how interconnected systems can amplify the effects of disasters. The research is published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment.

Author: Benjamin Carter