The Great Plague was one of the most destructive diseases ever seen in the history of mankind. This plague spread through China and eventually arrived in Europe and killed approximately 50 million people. During this time the Great Plague held sway and brought out the worst in people. This plague began in Europe in the 14th century. During this period the population was growing rapidly and food supplies were running low due to the harsh climate. The winters were particularly cold and very dry due to the extreme climate. (History today.com) Although scholars say that it is actually unclear where the Black Death began, many of them believe that the outbreak of this Great Mortality began in Mongolia in the late 1320s. From there they believe this disease has spread to China and some parts of Asia. In 1347 this epidemic killed approximately twenty-five million people in China, India, and parts of Asia. (Life during the Black Death) One of the first signs of this disaster in Europe occurred in Messina, Sicily, in 1347. This lethal epidemic reached merchant ships traveling through the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.“ This was a very standard trade route that brought things like silk and porcelain to European customers. These items were transported overland and across the Black Sea and even came from China.” (Black Death 1347 about.com) When the ships arrived at the Sicilian port of Messina after the long voyage, most of the sailors were extremely sick or dead. Their family and friends couldn't believe the horror they were seeing. When the Sicilian authorities arrived they ordered the ships to leave the port, hoping that it was not too late. The disease was so contagious that it began to spread immediately." People...... middle of paper......live under the control of the owners. There were many other changes in European life during this time period. This epidemic resulted in one of the deepest recessions in history and helped spur human inventiveness along with the need for enormous amounts of human labor. The Middle Ages had a huge and long-lasting impact on society and also triggered a new era called the Renaissance. In conclusion, the Great Plague was one of the worst epidemics in the history of humanity. This disaster killed people indiscriminately and devastated the world killing approximately seventy-five million people. It took a long time for the world's population to recover from this devastation, but it led to some economic and social improvements. It also laid the foundation for government and many new ideas for a new period called the Renaissance.