Pests That Changed History Photo Gallery and related media

Rattus Rattus, the Black Rat

Pests That Changed History

Rattus Rattus, the Black Rat

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Besides terrorizing many a rodent-phobe, rats have served as vehicles for various human diseases throughout history. Along with fleas, they have been responsible for numerous outbreaks of the bubonic plague.

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    From the rats that unleashed the Black Plague on 14th-century Europe to the mosquitoes that continue to infect millions with malaria each year, these pesky creatures have played a decisive role in shaping human history.

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