The Great Plague in Europe, also known as the Black Death, is generally marked by its onset in 1347. Spreading across the continent, it caused widespread suffering and death, wiping out an estimated one-third of Europe’s population over several years. The epidemic began when ships carrying infected rats docked in Italian ports, leading to rapid transmission of the disease. This catastrophic event profoundly impacted society, economics, and culture in medieval Europe, instigating a series of changes, including labor shortages, shifts in religious beliefs, and developments in public health practices. The Great Plague eventually waned by the early 1350s.