Human settlement in the fourteenth century The early medieval era saw many nomadic groups moving through Europe and Asia, invading new lands. Over time, these groups settled and established permanent villages and towns, which became centres of agricultural activity. • Franks, Magyars and Goths transitioned from warriors to farmers. • Vikings and Danes shifted from raiding to peaceful trade. By the 14th century, most of Europe, southern and eastern Asia, and northern Africa were permanently settled. Nomadic lifestyles persisted mainly in northern and Central Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. The growth of trade Settled civilisations were quick to realise the benefits of peaceful trade. Networks of overland trade roads developed throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, connecting the rapidly growing towns and leading to the growth of some towns as major trading centres. These towns would regularly hold fairs to allow merchants to display and sell their wares. Major commercial city-states such as Genoa and Venice sent ships throughout the Mediterranean and to western and northern European ports. Trade between Europe and Asia expanded rapidly along the Silk Road, with China and many other centres through Central Asia coming into regular contact with European merchants. 3.14.2 Outbreak in Asia Archaeological evidence suggests that the Black Death may have originated in China in the 1320s and 1330s. • The first major outbreak likely occurred in Hubei province in 1334. • Inscriptions in Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan, suggest it may have started there, which provides an alternative theory. • In the 14th century, China was largely ruled by the Mongols, who had strong links to Central Asia and may have brought the disease across. • Increased trade between China and Europe via the Silk Road increased the potential for the Black Death to spread to Europe. • European traders or Central Asian Tartar warriors (Mongols) could have carried the disease to Europe. The siege of Caffa In the thirteenth century, the Italian trading city of Genoa had taken control of Caffa, on the Crimean Peninsula, in modern-day Ukraine. Caffa was a major shipping port for trade throughout the Black Sea. In 1346 the Tartars attacked the city. They were supported by Genoa’s bitter rivals, the Venetians, who had previously controlled Caffa. As they laid siege to the city, the Tartars began to fall sick from a serious disease and large numbers died in a very short time. Unable to maintain the siege, the Tartars began to withdraw, but before they did, they began catapulting the diseased bodies of their dead over the walls and into the city (see SOURCE2 ). The Genoans who escaped from Caffa soon found they were carrying the Black Death. Venetian traders who had been present during the siege were also infected and both groups carried the deadly disease deep into the heart of Europe (see SOURCE3 ).
SkillBuilder discussion Using historical sources
1. How did the use of infected bodies as projectiles impact the spread of disease within the besieged city of Caffa? 2. What does this tactic tell us about the methods of warfare and psychological strategies used during medieval sieges? 3. How might the defenders of Caffa have responded to this form of biological warfare?
TOPIC3 Medieval Europe 93
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