The Black DeathIn 1347, the Black Plague (also known as the "Black Death") broke out in Europe. This plague was carried by rats, which delivered Bubonic plague-infested fleas to humans.In a fit of ignorance and stupidity, the authorities promptly blamed, and attempted to exterminate, cats. Which, (they said) had a "demonic appearance". Naturally, without cats, the rats did much better than they would have been able to otherwise. And people died by the cartload. "Bring out yer Dead!" More than one third of the population in Europe died directly as a result of the black plague. Along with most of the cats. Ah, ignorance.
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