The Black Death of 14th century Europe was one of the deadliest plagues in history. It struck in 1347, claiming millions of lives in a horrific form of death, leaving destruction and devastation in its wake. No part of Europe remained immune to this disease. No section of society was spared its horrific effects. Five years later, in 1353, the plague had run its course, but it forever changed the society that existed in 14th century Europe. No one knows for sure where this deadly disease originated. Most scholars agree that it comes from China. It is there that the first cases of plague were documented. From China it spread both by land and by sea. Overland the disease arrived with rats traveling in caravans in Central Asia along the Silk Road. By sea it spread when the Mongols came down from northern China to attack an Italian trading post in Crimea. Fighting ensued, and millions of people fled on ships bound for Genoa, Italy. Unfortunately for them, the ships harbored rats and fleas infested with deadly bacteria. Not only did most of the ships perish, but b...