The Black Death is generally considered to have begun in the mid‑14th century around 1346 and to have ended its first great wave by about 1353.

Quick Scoop

Historians usually date the start of the Black Death to about 1346, when plague outbreaks appeared in Central Asia and around the Black Sea, then moved toward Europe along trade routes.

The pandemic’s main European phase ran roughly from 1347 to 1351, when it swept across the continent and killed tens of millions of people.

Many scholars mark the end of this initial pandemic cycle between 1351 and 1353, when the first wave finally subsided in most affected regions, though smaller outbreaks kept returning for centuries.

So, in simple terms:

  • Started: around 1346 (reaching Europe by 1347)
  • First major wave ended: by about 1353

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