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Natural disasters devastated Asia, bringing infected rats and fleas into the towns in search of food and shelter.
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The first evidence of the plague was found in a town near Lake Issyk-Kul on Silk Road (trade route) in central Asia.
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The plague moved from Issy-Kul to Sarai and Astrakhan, infecting thousands of people. A sneeze or a cough meant a new death.
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The plague started to spread in Europe by the trading routes. They came in horses, furs, slaves, silks and spices. The epidemic reached Genoa on New Years Eve.
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The plague continue spreading quickly through trade routes and infected air (coughs and sneezes). It had reached all Europe, Asia and Africa in less than 3 years, no town was save from the plague.
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During winter, weather was unusually mild and wet, warm enough for rats living in houses to survive and continue carrying the plague. This meant people had no place to be save, even houses were a threat.
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The plague finally closed in Moscow, after it had killed almost 30% of Europe's population. It even killed King Alfonso XI of Spain, the patriarch of the of Russian church and the grand duke of Muscovy.
