What were the theories about the spread of the Black Death through air?

What were the theories about the spread of the Black Death through air?

During the time of the Black Death, there were several theories about the spread of the disease through the air. One prominent theory was the miasma theory, which suggested that the disease was caused by foul-smelling air or poisonous vapors emanating from decomposing organic matter. It was believed that these noxious fumes could infect individuals who breathed them in.

Another theory proposed that the Black Death was spread through a celestial conjunction of planets, which was thought to have caused a release of deadly gases into the atmosphere. This theory was based on the belief in astrology and the influence of celestial bodies on human health.

Additionally, some people believed that the Black Death was a punishment from God or a result of supernatural forces. They thought that the disease was spread through the air as a divine punishment for human sins or as a result of malevolent spirits.

These theories about the spread of the Black Death through the air were prevalent during the medieval period when scientific understanding of diseases was limited. It was not until later that the true cause of the Black Death, the bacterium Yersinia pestis, and its transmission through fleas and rats, was discovered.