Was there really a siege of Kaffa by the Mongols in 1346 the first biological war? And what was the aftermath?
On the basis of the 14th century manuscript by the Genoese Gabriele de’ Mussi many historians widely believe that plague called the Black Death had to have reached European continent from the port city of Kaffa (modern-day Theodosia) on the Crimea peninsula as a result of a biological warfare by the...
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Institute of Modern Humanitarian Researches
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Studia Humanitatis |
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| Online Access: | https://st-hum.ru/en/node/1368/ |
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| author | Christensen Carsten Sander |
| author_facet | Christensen Carsten Sander |
| author_sort | Christensen Carsten Sander |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | On the basis of the 14th century manuscript by the Genoese Gabriele de’ Mussi many historians widely believe that plague called the Black Death had to have reached European continent from the port city of Kaffa (modern-day Theodosia) on the Crimea peninsula as a result of a biological warfare by the Mongols. This is not only a historical interest but also relevant to current efforts to evaluate the threat of military or terrorist use of biological weapons. Based on published translations of the de’ Mussi’s manuscript and other 14th-century accounts of the Black Death it can be concluded that the Mongol attack was a biological warfare at Kaffa and provides the best explanation of the plague entry into the city. However, questions arise. Even though such a theory is consistent with the technology of those times and in a way with contemporary notions about the dangers and necessary caution in the treatment of such diseases, the report has a number of weaknesses in terms of practical implementation. This paper sheds light on the dark points of Gabriele de’ Mussi’s manuscript of the siege of Kaffa in the year 1346. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-abe5b31c7acb473b96ce2c60b190a316 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2308-8079 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Institute of Modern Humanitarian Researches |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Studia Humanitatis |
| spelling | doaj-art-abe5b31c7acb473b96ce2c60b190a3162025-01-28T00:06:09ZengInstitute of Modern Humanitarian ResearchesStudia Humanitatis2308-80792024-12-014Was there really a siege of Kaffa by the Mongols in 1346 the first biological war? And what was the aftermath?Christensen Carsten Sander0Independent Researcher (Billund, Denmark)On the basis of the 14th century manuscript by the Genoese Gabriele de’ Mussi many historians widely believe that plague called the Black Death had to have reached European continent from the port city of Kaffa (modern-day Theodosia) on the Crimea peninsula as a result of a biological warfare by the Mongols. This is not only a historical interest but also relevant to current efforts to evaluate the threat of military or terrorist use of biological weapons. Based on published translations of the de’ Mussi’s manuscript and other 14th-century accounts of the Black Death it can be concluded that the Mongol attack was a biological warfare at Kaffa and provides the best explanation of the plague entry into the city. However, questions arise. Even though such a theory is consistent with the technology of those times and in a way with contemporary notions about the dangers and necessary caution in the treatment of such diseases, the report has a number of weaknesses in terms of practical implementation. This paper sheds light on the dark points of Gabriele de’ Mussi’s manuscript of the siege of Kaffa in the year 1346.https://st-hum.ru/en/node/1368/gabriele de’ mussikaffaplagueblack deaththeodosiabiological warfaremongolsgreeksrepublic of genoabyzantine empirehunsitalian city-statesgolden horde |
| spellingShingle | Christensen Carsten Sander Was there really a siege of Kaffa by the Mongols in 1346 the first biological war? And what was the aftermath? Studia Humanitatis gabriele de’ mussi kaffa plague black death theodosia biological warfare mongols greeks republic of genoa byzantine empire huns italian city-states golden horde |
| title | Was there really a siege of Kaffa by the Mongols in 1346 the first biological war? And what was the aftermath? |
| title_full | Was there really a siege of Kaffa by the Mongols in 1346 the first biological war? And what was the aftermath? |
| title_fullStr | Was there really a siege of Kaffa by the Mongols in 1346 the first biological war? And what was the aftermath? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Was there really a siege of Kaffa by the Mongols in 1346 the first biological war? And what was the aftermath? |
| title_short | Was there really a siege of Kaffa by the Mongols in 1346 the first biological war? And what was the aftermath? |
| title_sort | was there really a siege of kaffa by the mongols in 1346 the first biological war and what was the aftermath |
| topic | gabriele de’ mussi kaffa plague black death theodosia biological warfare mongols greeks republic of genoa byzantine empire huns italian city-states golden horde |
| url | https://st-hum.ru/en/node/1368/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT christensencarstensander wastherereallyasiegeofkaffabythemongolsin1346thefirstbiologicalwarandwhatwastheaftermath |