Final answer:
The Black Death originated in Central Asia, near Lake Issyk-Kul, as indicated by high death rates in the region due to plague. It spread primarily through international sea and land trade routes, affecting Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe.
Step-by-step explanation:
Based on historical records and interpretations of the origins of the Black Death, it is widely believed that the pandemic began in Central Asia. Evidence points to the area near Lake Issyk-Kul, where there was an abnormally high death rate in 1338 and 1339 due to plague. Memorial stones in this region attributed the deaths to plague, supporting the theory that this was likely the cradle of the Black Death.
The disease traveled along various routes, including international sea and land trade routes, spreading its devastation across continents. The movement of pilgrims, refugees, merchants, and soldiers who traveled great distances brought with them not only cultural goods and traditions but also infectious diseases such as the Black Death, which had a disastrous impact on society.
Specifically, the Black Death followed the well-established Silk Road trading routes, as well as the maritime routes connecting Asia with the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe. It reached China, the Middle East, North Africa, and eventually Europe by the 1340s, wreaking havoc on the populations and socio-economic networks of these regions.