Outbreak of the Black Death in the 14th Century Multiple outbreaks of the Black Death occurred in the 1300s. For example, in the 13th century an epidemic in China killed a third of the population. Several dates prior to this period have shown that the disease was present years ago in Europe. Dying from the plague was scary for most people and Jordan Mcmullin, an author, points out: "Whenever the plague appeared, the sadness of death was terrifying" (Mcmullin n.pag.). Death has always been scary, but when a country is plagued by disease, death becomes a terrible fear, the plague scared the people of 541 and 542, when their epidemic spread. Therefore, while other Black Death epidemics occurred, the 14th century one in Europe was certainly the worst. Before the Black Death, living in Britain was interesting and positive, but not always pleasant. It was too crowded and dirty, Britain had been disgusting and unsanitary for citizens for a long period of time, even before the disease spread to Europe (Ibeji n.pag.). So because Britain was so dirty it was easier for this disease to spread. European citizens had no idea what would hit them. Many people were not ready for the cultural changes of the disease and were shocked that the disease even reached their cities. In 1347, Europe began to sense what the plague had in store. Terrible results occurred when citizens contracted the plague from fleas. The transfer of fleas to humans caused the outbreak of the Black Death. Infections caught by rodents were transmitted to fleas, which found a host to bite, spreading the terrible disease (“Black Death Plague” n.pag.). When the Genoese ships returned to Europe from China, with dead sailors and...... middle of paper ...... Works Cited Bridge, Spean's Deirde. “And a ship came bringing death.” Renaissance (Vol.1, No.4, Issue 4).1996:11-15 SIRS Discoverer. Network. March 03, 2014.Byrne, Joseph Patrick. Daily life during the Black Death. British Library Cataloging, 2006.Web. March 04, 2014.Deeringer, Martha. “The Black Death”. Learning through history vol. 4, no. November/December 6, 2008:28-30. GENTLEMEN Discoverer. Network. March 03, 2014.Ibeji, Mike. “Black Death: Political and Social Changes.” BBC News. BBC, 17 February 2011. SIRSDiscoverer. Network. 03 March 2014.Kirka, Danica. “London Railway Workers Find Likely Plague Burial Pit.” Lincoin Courier. March 15, 2013: np SIRS Discoverer. Network. March 03, 2014. McMullin, Jordan. The Black Death. FarmingtonHills: Greenhaven Press, 2003. Print. "The Black Death". National geographic. National Geographic Society, 1996-2014. Network. 03 March. 2014.