Historical Events tagged with "plague"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Health & Medicine

Kitasato Shibasaburō Identifies Plague Agent

August 25th, 1894 130 years ago

Kitasato Shibasaburō discovered the bacillus responsible for bubonic plague, known as Yersinia pestis, during an outbreak in Hong Kong. His findings were pivotal in understanding plague transmission and paved the way for later studies on infectious diseases. Upon isolating the bacterium, he published his results in The Lancet, sharing crucial knowledge with the scientific community and contributing to public health responses to the devastating disease.

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Arts & Culture

Publication of the First London Gazette

November 7th, 1665 359 years ago

The London Gazette, the oldest surviving journal, was first published in 1665, serving as an official record of government and public affairs. Established under the authority of Sir Edward Nicholas, the Gazette provided news updates during a tumultuous time marked by the Great Plague and ongoing wars. Distributed weekly, it became a crucial means of communication for citizens, detailing proclamations, bills, and local events. With the ability to influence public opinion and ensure transparency, the London Gazette laid the groundwork for modern journalism and official reporting in Britain.

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Crime & Law

Mass Killing of Jews in Strasbourg

February 14th, 1349 676 years ago

In Strasbourg, a violent outbreak erupted leading to the deaths of several hundred Jews who were burned alive by mobs. The remnants of the Jewish community were forcibly expelled from the city. This brutal incident stemmed from widespread anti-Jewish sentiment fueled by the Black Death, as Jews were wrongfully blamed for the plague that ravaged Europe.

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Crime & Law

Basel's Jewish Population Rounded Up and Incinerated

January 9th, 1349 676 years ago

In Basel, fear and superstition led to the mass rounding up and incineration of the Jewish population, whom many residents blamed for the Black Death ravaging Europe. Accusations of poisoning wells and spreading disease fueled this brutal act of violence against the community, who had lived in Basel for generations. The incident occurred amidst widespread hysteria and a desperate search for scapegoats amid the pandemic crisis.

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Military & Warfare

Avars Withdraw from Tomis Amidst Plague

March 30th, 598 1426 years ago

The Avars, led by Bayan I, lifted their siege on the Byzantine stronghold of Tomis after facing a devastating outbreak of plague that decimated their Avaro-Slavic army. As their forces dwindled, Bayan I made the decision to retreat north of the Danube River, marking a significant turn in the conflict between the Avars and the Byzantine Empire. Tomis, located on the Black Sea coast, was a critical stronghold for the Byzantines.

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