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brownie81 t1_j5066tj wrote

Reply to comment by Rear-gunner in The Black Death may not have been spread by rats after all by Rear-gunner

I could only skim the article but it seems like their research was focused on the animal reservoirs in Europe and the fact that rats are slow-moving mammals so wouldn't necessarily facilitate a rapid spread.

My understanding was that the rats were only the vector on the trade ships from the east and the actual spread through Europe was primarily done by humans. I suppose I just don't fully understand their hypothesis.

PS: I checked out the actual published research and it's more clear. The research is confirming the hypothesis that there weren't significant plague reservoirs in Europe. The original article is a bit clickbaity I guess is all. Tries to make it seem like some epic debunking or something lol.

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bubba4114 t1_j51rtju wrote

So to summarize, fleas on the rats introduced the plague to various parts of Europe via trade routes and then humans spread it from there?

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brownie81 t1_j5264hd wrote

That is my understanding of it but I’m not too knowledgeable on the subject. This study was specifically about there being no natural plague reservoirs in Europe, due to various factors.

The actual study is pretty interesting.

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Jjex22 t1_j541wo5 wrote

Tbh that’s basically how it was taught to me in school 20 years ago, so I think they’re right to call it a bit click baity

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Wooglets t1_j5126lj wrote

Happy cake day and thanks for putting in the extra effort for us lazy ones

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Laura-ly t1_j61rdad wrote

> their research was focused on the animal reservoirs in Europe and the fact that rats are slow-moving mammals

Huh? The rats around these parts are very quick. Maybe American rats are much quicker than European rats.

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