The Black Death

The black death; also known as the Bubonic Plague was a massive outbreak of disease which destroyed European life in the mid 1300's. The disease initially started in the Gobi desert of Mongolia and eventually spread to China. It was not thriving in China because of the spaced out style of infrastructure. Due to the main trading routes between China and Europe such as the silk road, the disease soon spreads to Sicily. This is the beginning of what seemed to be the end for many Europeans.

Because of the urbanization and close proximity of European cities, the disease spread rapidly throughout. Creating famine, fear, and death across every piece of land it cam across, the Black Death killed approximately 25 million Europeans. It permanently left a mark on the human genome for future generations, and may explain why many Europeans respond differently to diseases compared to others.

Sources: http://www.history.com/topics/black-death