The Black Death By silkroad Apr 12, 1333 The Plague breaks out in China, killing five million Apr 12, 1346 Merchants go to Sicily and they spread the disease even more Rat fleas carried over by trade ships were the main cause Apr 12, 1347 The plague spreads to Cyprus and into Italy, Venice, and Egypt Apr 12, 1348 The plague reaches Paris and England Persecution of the Jews start Apr 12, 1349 Thousands of Jews burned to death Apr 12, 1351 Plague reaches Russia Apr 12, 1353 35 million deaths from the plague in China Apr 12, 1355 60% of Europe's population dead