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| The triumph of death by Pieter Brueghel the elder |
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| illustration of the plague in medieval Europe |
#1 Plague
Europe 1347 - 1351
Source of infection: sailors from merchant ships
The Black Death was originating in China and brought to Europe on merchant ships. First infected city was Messina, Sicily in October 1347 and disease rapidly spread all over the island.
Plague may have reduced world´s population from 450 millions to between 350 and 370 millions.
Husbands were leaving their wives, parents their children. Doctors did not want to treat infected and priests refused to meet sick. People walled up their neighbors in their homes to stop spreading the disease.
The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history.
#2 Typhus
Europe 1489 - 1490
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| depiction of typhus victims |
Source of infection: lace, fleas and ticks
Typhus as a new disease appeared during military operation in Spain, where the Moors resisted the attempts of the Spanish Christian kingdoms to conquer Granada. 3000 men died in a battle, 17 000 died from typhus. The rest run away.
Because nakedness was considered as a sin at these times, bathing was unacceptable so typhus spread out quite quickly.
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| drawing in a book XII of the 16th century Florentine Codex |
#3 Smallpox
North and South America 16th century
Source of infection: Spanish conquerors
When Hernán Cortés (1485 - 1547) and his men entered Tenochtitlan in 1519 they were consider to be a gods first. Later native Americans found out that they are just intruders and drove them out with arrows and spears. Dead bodies of Europeans infected native Americans with killing disease. No sacrifice to gods helped and whole civilizations of the New world were wiped out. Deadly virus helped Aztec and Incas extinction.
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| army leaflet how to prevent cholera |
#4 Cholera
Asia and Europe 1829 - 1849
Source of infection: water
Cholera appeared first in India and then spread out via merchant routes to China and Europe. Infected person was dead within 12 hours. Most of the victims people were among poor and conspiracy theory was made. People from slums blamed the rich that they poisoned water to get rid of them. This leads to many rebellions on the streets and murders of aristocrats.
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