The start of the black pleg?

The Black Plague, or Black Death, began in the mid-14th century, with its most devastating outbreak occurring between 1347 and 1351. It is believed to have originated in Central Asia and spread via trade routes, including the Silk Road, reaching Europe through ports like Messina in Sicily. The disease, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, was transmitted by fleas that infested rats, leading to widespread mortality and significant social and economic upheaval across the continent. This pandemic resulted in the deaths of an estimated 25-30 million people in Europe alone, dramatically altering the course of history.