Plague and Power: Venice, Genoa, and the Mongols facing the mid-14th century's crisis

This paper analyzes the Mongol siege of Caffa in 1345/46 as the origin of the plague pandemic that struck Europe in the 14th century. Through the presentation and analysis of available documentation, an attempt will be made to reconstruct the Genoese and Venetian reaction to a danger that, although well known to the people of the time, immediately appeared as lethal and irrepressible. The consequences of the epidemic were dramatic because of the high mortality rate caused by the plague bacteria, but they also had social, economic, and political implications. The latter were particularly evident in the shifting alliances. After a period of cooperation against the Mongols, the rivalry between Genoa and Venice flared up again, leading to the third war between the two cities. A conflict broke out over the control of the Black Sea.