Middle Ages Regents Practice

What was one of the primary reasons for the spread of the bubonic plague?

1. Increase in trade

2. Colonization of the Americas

3. Development of the manorial system

4. Economic decline

The correct answer is: Increase in trade

The spread of the bubonic plague, particularly during the 14th century, was significantly facilitated by the increase in trade across Europe and Asia. The expansion of trade routes, including the Silk Road and maritime routes, allowed for not just goods but also people and, unfortunately, diseases to travel more freely. As merchants and traders moved between cities and from different regions, they unwittingly carried the fleas and rats that harbored the plague bacterium. Major trade centers became hotspots for the disease due to the high population density and constant movement of people, which contributed to the rapid transmission of the plague. In contrast, the other options do not directly relate to the spread of the bubonic plague. The colonization of the Americas occurred after the initial spread of the plague in Europe, making it less relevant to its outbreak. The development of the manorial system pertains more to the socio-economic structure of medieval Europe rather than factors that contributed to disease spread. An economic decline, while it may have been a consequence of the plague in some regions, did not influence its initial spread. The increases in trade and mobility were the key drivers in the dissemination of the disease across vast areas.