During the Black Death, people often looked for scapegoats to blame for the devastating plague that swept through Europe. One group that was unjustly blamed for the Black Death was Jews. Many people believed that Jews had caused the plague by poisoning the water or food, and as a result, Jews were subjected to violence and persecution in many parts of Europe. Other groups that were unfairly blamed for the Black Death included beggars, lepers, and people who were perceived as being different or outsider. In reality, the Black Death was caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which was transmitted by fleas that lived on rats. However, the lack of understanding about the true cause of the plague and the fear and desperation it generated led many people to seek out and blame others for the disaster.