Final answer:
The Black Death was caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and spread through trade routes, carried by fleas living on black rats.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Black Death, a devastating pandemic that occurred from 1346 to 1361, was caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. The disease is believed to have originated in China and spread to Europe and other parts of the world through trade routes, carried by fleas living on black rats. The Black Death significantly reduced the global population and had profound social, demographic, and economic impacts.