Intrigued by the incomplete historical record of modern England, interdisciplinary researchers question the historical accuracy of the Black Death. The Black Death was a prodigious epidemic, killing between thirty-three and sixty percent of the European population (Theilmann 376). Popular belief has it that Y. pesits disease caused the Black Death. However, after examining historical and modern accounts of the plague, some researchers believe otherwise. This article explores the context of the epidemics, the contrasting views on the Black Death, and the implications of the Black Death for modern science. To understand the opposing views, a brief overview of epidemics, particularly of Y. pestis, must be given. “An epidemic is usually one widespread enough to affect an entire population – a region, a country, or even a continent” (Lowth 42). Examining the spread of disease and the history of Y. pestis will help to understand each point of view. The spread of disease between individuals is remarkable at the microscopic level, but the rapid spread of disease through a population is extraordinary. Unique interactions between an infectious agent, host, and environment create an epidemic (43). Epidemics, once formed, require optimal conditions to disperse. “For a plague to spread, it needs a pathogen that does not incapacitate or kill its host too quickly, populations that are susceptible to it, and a mode of transfer that works in the environment” (43). The first condition considers the lethality of the disease. . Highly fatal diseases are not considered epidemics (42). Diseases with high mortality rates do not have the ability to transmit between hosts. Epidemics tend to have a lower mortality rate, making them highly contagious (4...... middle of paper ......mers months of the year (Theilmann 376). Because the Although the Black Death had a seasonal peak during the winter months, critics do not believe that the bubonic plague caused the Black Death (Welford and Bossak 1). However, critics fail to ignore the potential adaptations of Y. pestis. and climate change (Nigel 2 and Welford 5) There should be no conclusion. Some skepticism is important in any scientific discovery. There can always be contradictory evidence to a theory. the Black Death. Researchers know that the European population was decimated during the 14th century. The theory that this happened is uncertain. Therefore, the theory equating the bubonic plague with the Black Death will never be certain. However, with the evidence we currently have, it is possible to establish a strong equation between the two..