<span>The first recorded appearance of the plague in Europe was at Messina, Sicily in October of 1347. It arrived on trading ships that very likely came from the Black Sea, past Constantinople and through the Mediterranean. While Sicily was succumbing to the horrors of the disease, the expelled trading ships brought it to other areas around the Mediterranean, infecting the neighboring islands of Corsica and Sardinia by November.</span>
Catherine can be described a such because she had no constitution for her country. She ruled by her own decision not by a written code. Her laws had to be upheld. She herself quoted that, "The Sovereign is Absolute."
hope that helped;P
Bribing elected officials
It wasn’t settled by any western powers and it is some of the most fertile land on the planet.
I think it’s true but I would get a second opinion