Study Links Volcanic Eruption to Spread of Black Death in Europe
A recent study published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment suggests that a significant volcanic eruption may have played a crucial role in the spread of the Black Death across medieval Europe. Researchers Martin Bauch and Ulf Büntgen analyzed tree ring growth, volcanic sulfur in ice cores, and historical writings to identify a major eruption around 1345 CE. This event is believed to have caused cooling and wetter conditions, leading to widespread crop failures and famine in regions such as Spain, southern France, and Italy. In response, Italian city-states imported grain from the Black Sea, potentially carrying plague-infected fleas, which may have accelerated the pandemic's spread. 
