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The Black Death spread through Europe between 1347 and 1353, killing an estimated 25 to 50 million people and eliminating more than half the continent's population in some areas. Researchers from the University of Cambridge and the Leibniz Institute for the History and Culture of Eastern Europe have proposed that volcanic eruptions around 1345 triggered a chain of events leading to the pandemic's arrival in Europe.

The Black Death spread through Europe between 1347 and 1353, killing an estimated 25 to 50 million people and eliminating more than half the continent's population in some areas. Researchers from the University of Cambridge and the Leibniz Institute for the History and Culture of Eastern Europe have proposed that volcanic eruptions around 1345 triggered a chain of events leading to the pandemic's arrival in Europe.

Tree ring analysis from the Spanish Pyrenees revealed consecutive blue rings in 1345, 1346 and 1347, indicating unusually cold and wet summers across southern Europe. Ice core data from Greenland and Antarctica showed sulfur spikes aligned with these cold periods, suggesting volcanic activity that injected an estimated 14 teragram of sulfur into the atmosphere.

Tree ring analysis from the Spanish Pyrenees revealed consecutive blue rings in 1345, 1346 and 1347, indicating unusually cold and wet summers across southern Europe. Ice core data from Greenland and Antarctica showed sulfur spikes aligned with these cold periods, suggesting volcanic activity that injected an estimated 14 teragram of sulfur into the atmosphere.

The volcanic cooling caused widespread crop failures and famine across the Mediterranean region, including Spain, southern France, northern and central Italy, Egypt and the Levant. Wheat prices in 1347 surged to their highest levels in 80 years, threatening political unrest and rebellion in major Italian cities.

The volcanic cooling caused widespread crop failures and famine across the Mediterranean region, including Spain, southern France, northern and central Italy, Egypt and the Levant. Wheat prices in 1347 surged to their highest levels in 80 years, threatening political unrest and rebellion in major Italian cities.

Italian city states including Venice and Genoa had been engaged in a war with the Mongol Empire over control of Black Sea trade since 1343, cutting off access to grain supplies from that region. In 1347, facing severe food shortages, these cities negotiated a ceasefire with the Mongols to resume grain imports from the Black Sea area.

Italian city states including Venice and Genoa had been engaged in a war with the Mongol Empire over control of Black Sea trade since 1343, cutting off access to grain supplies from that region. In 1347, facing severe food shortages, these cities negotiated a ceasefire with the Mongols to resume grain imports from the Black Sea area.

Grain ships returning from Black Sea ports in what is now Crimea and Ukraine in 1347 carried fleas infected with Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for the plague. The fleas likely fed on grain dust during the voyage and jumped to local rats and humans once the cargo was distributed in Italian ports.

Grain ships returning from Black Sea ports in what is now Crimea and Ukraine in 1347 carried fleas infected with Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for the plague. The fleas likely fed on grain dust during the voyage and jumped to local rats and humans once the cargo was distributed in Italian ports.

Cities that relied on imported grain, such as Venice and Genoa, experienced plague outbreaks first, while cities that grew more of their own food, including Rome and Milan, were largely unaffected during the initial wave. The pattern demonstrates how the climate driven change in trade routes inadvertently facilitated the pandemic's spread.

Cities that relied on imported grain, such as Venice and Genoa, experienced plague outbreaks first, while cities that grew more of their own food, including Rome and Milan, were largely unaffected during the initial wave. The pattern demonstrates how the climate driven change in trade routes inadvertently facilitated the pandemic's spread.

Volcanic Eruptions May Have Triggered Black Death Pandemic

Volcanic Eruptions May Have Triggered Black Death Pandemic

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Volcanic Eruptions May Have Triggered Black Death Pandemic

Volcanic Eruptions May Have Triggered Black Death Pandemic

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