Why might the plague have been slower to reach eastern Europe than it was western and northern Europe?

The plague reached Eastern Europe about a decade after it first appeared in Western Europe, and there were a few factors that may have contributed to this delay:

1. Trade and Travel Patterns: Eastern Europe had less trade and travel with the Black Sea region and Italy, where the plague originated, compared to Western and Northern Europe. This reduced the frequency of contact and the likelihood of the disease being introduced.

2. Geographical Barriers: Eastern Europe is separated from the rest of Europe by several natural barriers, such as the Carpathian Mountains, which may have slowed down the movement of people and trade caravans carrying the infection.

3. Quarantine Measures: Some Eastern European cities and regions implemented quarantine measures and travel restrictions earlier and more effectively than their Western counterparts. These measures aimed to limit the movement of people and goods from infected areas, reducing the risk of transmission.

4. Demographic and Population Density: Eastern Europe was generally less densely populated than Western Europe, which may have contributed to the slower spread of the disease. Smaller population centers and greater distances between settlements could have limited the rapid transmission of the plague.

5. Environmental Factors: The climate in Eastern Europe might have played a role as well. The colder and drier conditions in the region could have made it less hospitable for the fleas that carried the plague bacterium.

It is important to note that these factors are not exhaustive, and the spread of the plague was influenced by a complex interplay of various social, economic, and environmental conditions.