Gerbils

did gerbils cause the black death


Did Gerbils Cause the Black Death?

The Black Death was one of the deadliest pandemics in history, killing millions of people in the 14th century. The cause of the pandemic has long been debated and researched, with many different theories being put forward. One of the more more recent and interesting theories is that the Black Death was spread by gerbils.

What is the Black Death?

The Black Death was a devastating pandemic of bubonic plague that began in Europe in 1347, eventually spreading to many other parts of the world. It affected vast numbers of people, resulting in an estimated 25 million deaths in Europe alone.

What is the gerbil theory?

The ‘gerbil theory’ suggests that gerbils, tiny burrowing rodents, could have been the original cause of the Black Death pandemic. The theory suggests that the plague was carried in gerbil fleas and spread through their migrations from central Asia to parts of Europe and the Middle East.

Evidence for the gerbil theory

There is evidence to support the theory that gerbils could have caused the Black Death. A study found that the gerbils’ migrations to Europe and the Middle East occurred at the same time that the pandemic broke out. And the range of the gerbils corresponded to the range of the Black Death.

Furthermore, researchers were able to sequence the plague bacteria in gerbil fleas, confirming that they carried the same type of plague that caused the pandemic. This lends further support to the idea that gerbils were responsible for the spread of the plague.

Conclusion

The gerbil theory is an interesting and plausible one. It provides evidence to suggest that gerbils were, at least partly, responsible for the spread of the Black Death. While more research is needed to fully understand the cause of the pandemic, the gerbil theory is an intriguing possibility.

Key points:

  • The Black Death was a devastating pandemic that struck Europe in the 14th century.
  • The ‘gerbil theory’ suggests that gerbils, and their fleas, caused the spread of the plague.
  • Evidence suggests that the gerbils’ migration patterns and range corresponded with those of the Black Death.
  • The gerbil theory is a compelling possibility and more research is needed.

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