Black Death

1346–1353 pandemic in Eurasia and North Africa

Arts & Culture
Black Death
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Overview

What happened

April 18, 1334, marked the beginning of construction on Giotto's Campanile in Florence, Italy, a project that would take over 25 years to complete and f...

Date

April 18, 1334

Key people

Giotto, Giovanni Villani

Why it matters

This article provides a unique perspective on the construction of Giotto's Campanile, highlighting the complex and often fraught nature of human creativity and innovation, and the en...

What was Black Death?

The Black Death was a plague pandemic that occurred in Europe from 1346 to 1353. It was one of the most fatal pandemics in human history; as many as 50 million people died, perhaps 50% of Europe's 14th-century population. The disease is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and is spread by fleas and through the air. One of the most significant events in European history, the Black Death had far-reaching population, economic, and cultural effects. It was the beginning of the second plague pandemic. The plague created religious, social, and economic upheavals, with profound effects on the course of European history.

Black Death
Related books
The Black Death cover The Black Death Philip Ziegler · 1969 The Great Mortality cover The Great Mortality John Kelly · 2005 The black death and men of learning cover The black death and men of learning Anna Montgomery Campbell · 1931 The Black Death 1346-1353 cover The Black Death 1346-1353 Ole J. Benedictow · 2004 Life during the black death cover Life during the black death Dunn, John M. · 2000
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Background and consequences

The Black Death was the second great natural disaster to strike Europe during the Late Middle Ages (the first one being the Great Famine of 1315–1317) and is estimated to have killed 30% to 60% of the European population, as well as approximately 33% of the population of the Middle East. There were further outbreaks throughout the Late Middle Ages and, also due to other contributing factors (the crisis of the late Middle Ages), the European population did not regain its 14th century level until the 16th century.

Pieter Bruegel's The Triumph of Death reflects the social upheaval and terror that followed the plague, which devastated medieval Europe.
Pieter Bruegel's The Triumph of Death reflects the social upheaval and terror that followed the plague, which devastated medieval Europe.
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Related on thisDay

Giotto's Campanile — April 18, 1334

25 years of construction began with Giotto in 1334 Florence, Italy, forming a iconic Campanile that still stands today

Use the dated article for the day-specific account; use these references to check the event record and explore its wider historical context.

Date article: Giotto's Campanile — April 18, 1334Wikipedia source
Cite this page
MLA

“Black Death.” thisDay, thisday.info/history/black-death/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

APA

Black Death. (n.d.). thisDay. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://thisday.info/history/black-death/

Chicago

“Black Death.” thisDay. Accessed October 19, 2026. https://thisday.info/history/black-death/.

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