So Nature killed many through corruptions,
Death came driving after her and dashed all to dust,
Kings and knights, emperors and popes;
He left no man standing, whether learned or ignorant...
~William Langland (c. 1330-1387)
How does the part relate to the whole?
While there have been many outbreaks of the plague over history, the worst of them struck Europe from 1347-1351. The pandemic was thought to have started in China or central Asia and slowly moved along trade paths to Europe. It is estimated that between 75 and 200 million people died over the short period of time. This is roughly 30-60% of Europe's entire population at the time (PlaguetheBlackDeath, 2012).
- How did this devistation affect Europe and the world long term?