Black Death Bubonic Plague Analysis

348 Words2 Pages

The Black Death, also known as the Bubonic Plague, was one of if not most significant plagues of all time. The illness took an enormous toll on multiple continents, infecting the rich, the poor, and everyone in between. Europe, in particular, sustained a loss of up to one-third of its population (DeSantis, 2015). The outbreak was spread by parasites, which caused complications for both lifestyle, economy, and commerce throughout Europe.
The parasite that carried the illness was brought to Europe when traders came to exchange their good with Europeans. This in effect started the problem with trade and trickling down to the economy. According to Stuart Borsch (2005), between 1086-1300 the Black Death brought one of the most significant changes in economy and lifestyle. The wealthy landowners had to bargain with the workforce on a case by case and person by person basis rather than one agreement for the whole workforce. This made it more profitable for the workers and less profitable for the landowners, which caused some change in the wealth structure. This …show more content…

Due to the poor state of France’s economy, government, and recent losses in the war, France had to sign the Peace of Bretigny in 1356 (Lengal, 2013). The Peace of Bretigny, in turn, gave England more power and created a short reprieve from the Hundred Years’ War.
In conclusion, there are countless reasons the economy and the way of living changed dramatically in Europe during the time of the Black Death. The illness came right on the heels of the Great Famine and could not have begun at a worse time for Europe. Fear of trade, self-preservation during though times, lack of resources, and having to care for the sick and the dead. The substantial loss of life caused the shortage of workers, and the Hundred Year’s War made a horrific time

Open Document