Episode 17 — Venice and the plague – part 1

Written and presented by

Venetian Stories

00:00 / 33:05

In 1348 — or maybe late in 1347 — a ship arrived in Venice with an unexpected — and unwanted — cargo.

From the Black Sea, besides the normal goods of hemp, fur, cotton and silk, it brought the plague to Venice.

From Venice, the plague moved onwards to all of Western Europe.

Millions died in what was probably one of the largest disasters ever to hit the continent.

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