In the 1300s there was an epidemic of a disease known as the Black Death that affected all of Europe. This disease, also known as bubonic plague, raged throughout Europe killing over a third of the population. The disease was caused by a bacterium known as Yersinia pestis. The bacteria, originating in fleas, spread to rats and then to people. The Black Death spread by trade throughout Europe. Large cities were first affected, and then spread to the surrounding less densely populated areas. The death rate in large cities was close to fifty percent of the population, while in more rural areas the rate was lower. The lasting effects of this disease have changed Europe both socially and economically. The bubonic plague triggered a loss of faith and generated negative feelings towards the church, but positively affected the masses by creating opportunities they did not have in the past. When the plague began, many Christians believed it was punishment for their sins from God; others lost faith in the church or blamed it on followers of other religions. Many who thought God was punishing them became flagellants. These people would go to the main square or church, whip themselves, and shout, “God spare us,” asking for forgiveness for their sins (Gottfried 263). During the plague many people sought help through religion. Christians prayed, but received no response from God. Many began to question the truth behind their beliefs. People would turn their backs on the Church and lose faith in their faith. A common view of people who survived the plague was that they were “cynical about religion” (Watt 3). People became more selfish and less pious because they needed less support from… middle of paper… but they managed to help the lives of the surviving masses. Works Cited Arrizabalaga, Jon. "Plague and Epidemics". The Oxford Dictionary of the Middle Ages. vol. 3. New York: Oxford UP, 2010. 1314-317. Print.Gottfried, Robert S. “Death Star.” Dictionary of the Middle Ages. vol. 2. New York: Sons of Charles Scribner, 1983. 257-67. Print.Gottfried, Robert S. “Plague, European.” Dictionary of the Middle Ages. vol. 9. New York: Sons of Charles Scribner, 1987. 672-83. Print.McEvedy, Colin. The new Penguin Atlas of medieval history. New York: Penguin Group, 1992. 90. Print.Wagner, Stephen. "Death Star". The Oxford Dictionary of the Middle Ages. vol. I. New York: Oxford UP, 2010. 267. Print.Watts, Tim. "Death Star". World Geography: Understanding a Changing World. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 6 December. 2013..