Pestilence refers to a widespread disease that causes significant suffering and death among populations. Historically, it has been associated with epidemics and pandemics, such as the Black Death in the 14th century, which decimated Europe's population. Pestilence can be caused by various pathogens, including bacteria and viruses, and often spreads rapidly in crowded or unsanitary conditions. The term is also used in a broader sense to describe any harmful or destructive influence. In literature and culture, pestilence is often personified as a figure or force that brings about calamity, reflecting humanity's fears of disease and mortality.