The Great Plague was one of the most destructive diseases in human history. This plague spread through China and eventually reached Europe and killed around 50 million people. During this period, the Great Plague dominated and brought the worst out of the people. This plague began in Europe in the 14th century. At that time, the population was growing rapidly and food supplies were scarce due to bad weather. Winters were particularly cold and very dry due to extreme weather conditions. (History Today.com) Although scholars say it is unclear where the Black Death began, many believe the outbreak of this great death toll began in Mongolia in the late 1320s. From there, they believe this disease spread to China and parts of Asia. By 1347, this epidemic had 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 deadly epidemic arrived on commercial ships passing through the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea . » This was a very standard trade route that brought items like silk and porcelain to European customers. These objects were transported overland and across the Black Sea and came from as far away as China. (Black Death 1347 about.com) When the ships arrived at the Sicilian port of Messina after a long voyage, most of the sailors were extremely ill or dead. Their family members and friends couldn't believe the horror they were seeing. When the Sicilian authorities arrived, they ordered the ships to leave port, hoping it would not be too late. The disease was so contagious that it immediately began to spread. » People...... middle of paper...... live under the control of the owners. European life underwent many other changes during this period. This epidemic caused one of the deepest recessions in history and helped spur human inventiveness and the need for a massive human workforce. The Dark Ages had a huge and lasting impact on society and also sparked a new era called the Renaissance. In conclusion, the Great Plague was one of the worst epidemics in human history. This disaster killed people indiscriminately and ravaged the entire world and killed approximately seventy-five million people. It took a long time for the world's population to recover from this devastation, but it nevertheless led to some economic and social improvements. This also laid the foundation for government and many new ideas for a new period called the Renaissance..