The Black Death, one of the deadliest pandemics in human history, began to spread across Europe in 1354, leading to the deaths of millions. Originating from Asia, the plague reached major cities like Florence and Paris, causing widespread fear and social upheaval. The catastrophic loss of life had profound effects on European society, economy, and culture.

The Black Death profoundly influenced literature, inspiring works that explored themes of death, despair, and the fragility of life. Poets such as Francesco Petrarch and later writers like Giovanni Boccaccio would reflect on the human condition in the face of mortality, shaping the themes of Renaissance literature and the development of humanism.