The Black Death killed about one third of Europe’s population during the Medieval ages. Not only was the large population loss traumatic, but the loss of livestock, goods from trading, and those who were not sick, were isolating themselves, banding together, or fleeing the area. Although this disease was devastating, it brought along with it some positive influences, such as jobs, the end of feudalism, the creation of worker’s rights, the increase of industry, and the development of medicine (Damen, 2013). Farming the land and raising livestock was the main way of life in Europe during this time. However, the plague not only killed many people, but it also killed many animals, including the livestock. Many people were forced to leave their …show more content…
Many homes were being abandoned, as well as market places. Many people were not able to receive the help they needed from doctors or priests, as they were too afraid to get the illness. Many people died in pain and loneliness. Others were banding together in groups outside of the cities, trying to survive. However, this plague brought with it some important influences. With the loss of many people and abandoned farms, peasants were able to create a living working where needed. Wage disputes began and people were receiving higher compensation for their work efforts. With a lack of workers, the demands for higher pay were being met. This ended the feudalism in Europe for the peasants, along with increasing their rights. Farming and living in the country started to decline in popularity. Due to the lack of workers, people were turning to industry to suit their needs. Along with this development of the economy, came the developments in medicine also. The people were becoming more aware of how cleanliness can affect their health, and so, were beginning to adopt more sanitary ways of life. Experimenting through trial and error seemed to influence the advances in medicine during this plague
It was rare for a shower or bath even once a week. Doctors’ visits were limited to those who could afford it and that was a slim few. Such luxuries and a bath were even more rare when it came to those where were homeless and out of the job. European job opportunities were very few if any. It was extremely hard for many to scrape by and survive.
The Black Death caused many positive and negative changes in medieval society. Since the Black Death caused such a vast amount of humans to die in a short period, there was a large surplus of food however a shortage of peasants to work the land. This labour shortage meant that serfs were no longer tied to the land and could leave to find higher wages, as said in Chronicle of the Black Death 'such a shortage of workers... scarcely be persuaded to serve the eminent unless for triple wages'. Secondly, because of the upwards mobility and lack of structure that came from the Black Death and the fact that serfs could ask for more pay, feudalism became a lot less prominent in many places and was eventually replaced with other systems, such as capitalism.
It is no wonder that the Europeans felt that their economic environment was vulnerable and uneasy, “European economy slowly improved, and agriculture and manufacturing production eventually reached pre-famine levels” (Nelson, Insert Year). The economy impact of the Black Death must start with the historical context that the economy was not as sturdy as other time periods or European history. For this reason, the set back, economically speaking, was an enormous strain on European life. With population decreasing drastically, and the economy barely trying to recover from the famine, the Europeans suffered in terms of having workers to produce into the economy--especially to create food for what was left of the population. For these reasons, the Black Death took a major toll on the economy of Europe and created relentless heart ache, “Many people touched by the plague moved away from medieval cities and towns to unaffected areas.
The plague then started to infect thousands and thousands until 35% of Europe’s population was deceased. This reduced the world population in total to seventy-five to one hundred million people. Massive loss of life was caused. For a short time war stopped and trade declined. Many of the serfs died, so the remaining ones demanded higher wages.
All plagues strike by uprooting individual lives and society as a whole. Nevertheless, the particular circumstances regarding the government, and religious and cultural beliefs in the affected lands influence the specific results of the tragedy, as witnessed through the Black Death and smallpox. Although both diseases led to drastic economic changes, they caused different overturns of religious beliefs, and only the Black Death resulted in the creation of public health services and the marginalization of groups of people. A lack of labor precipitated alterations to the economy--the end of feudalism in the case of the Black Death and the creation of the Transatlantic Slave Trade in the case of smallpox.
With nearly seventy-five million people dead, the plague began to fade out, and large social changes were made as a result. The people who survived the pandemic profited from a shortage of labor. In an effort to keep the serfs on their land to work, the lords increased their living conditions and made their land look more desirable
The reason the bubonic plague was so devastating to the European society is because no one was prepared for so many people to die so quickly. This event that reached Italy in the spring of 1348 was one of the most deeply stressing moments of humanity that faced most of Europe. No only did 50% of Europe’s population die it affected every single part of the European society. The culture, education, economy, religion, and the simplicity of life was turned upside down from this epidemic. Not only was were the symptoms of the plague bad, while you had the symptoms you suffered with the misery effects of the plague that there was no cure for.
In 1347, Europe had just been infected by the Black Death. This epidemic killed over 2/3 of Europe’s population and lasted for over five years. The pathogen that caused the Black Death was Yersinia Pestis which causes many forms of plague. The Plague originated in central and south Asia then traveled through trade routes like the Silk Road, all the way to Sicily The Black Death killed most of Europe’s population, thus ending Feudalism by having not enough serfs and workers to run fields and farms. The land owners started to offer more for their work and labor, making the lower class more wealthy, and providing more jobs.
The lack of legitimate scientific knowledge caused people to seek alternative answers. Superstitious beliefs both religious helped to alleviate fear. Many believed that the plague was punishment for their sins and turned to the church for repentance. Flagellantism became a trending movement during the time, and thousands of citizens gathered in processions, whipping themselves as a way of repenting. Feeling powerless, the majority of Europeans turned to the church for hope, especially the poor, who did not have the resources to flee the city like the rich, and were the most affected by the plague (Doc 3).
The lords that owned these dying lands were desperate for work. Taking advantage of the situation, peasants began to demand for money for their labor. For the first time, peasants were making working conditions and they were working for themselves. The higher social classes did not have as much control over the lower classes. Without the Black Plague, job opportunities and the end of feudalism would not have happened.
The Black Death plague struck at a desperate time (pop increase) resulting in • strained food supply • Crop failures between 1315 and 1317 • high unemployment and low wages o Black Death followed trade routes from Asia • Plague moved from south to north o "bad air" was believed to be the cause of the plague • some blamed poisonous fumes from earthquakes o Remedies • people wore perfume or strong smelling plants • changes in lifestyle • some people remained in seclusion • flagellants were people who whipped themselves to "appease god • Jews as scapegoats
Economic and Social Consequences of the Black Death The Black Death was no modest disease it swept all over Europe during the dark ages , had immense and annihilating effects and is in fact one of the most disastrous and destructive pandemics in human history. It rapidly spread through Medieval Europe during 1347-1351 killing more than one third of the population. In the midst of Italy’s overpopulated cities 50 to 60 percent of the population died while villages were completely swept of their people in England and Germany (Spielvogel World History and Geography 248-249). The Black did not only bring the tragedy of killing millions but it also came with many consequences such as economic inflation and extreme social distinction ("Social and Economic Effects of the Plague").After the intense shock of the Black Death, Europe’s economically declined, its internal affair were instable and its social systems
During the mid-fourteenth century, a plague hit Europe. Initially spreading through rats and subsequently fleas, it killed at least one-third of the population of Europe and continued intermittently until the 18th century. There was no known cure at the time, and the bacteria spread very quickly and would kill an infected person within two days, which led to structural public policies, religious, and medical changes in Europe. The plague had an enormous social effect, killing much of the population and encouraging new health reforms, it also had religious effects by attracting the attention of the Catholic Church, and lastly, it affected the trade around Europe, limiting the transportation of goods. As a response to the plague that took place
It was the Spring of 1348, and the citizens of Europe were malnourished due to limited food supplies for such a large population. This made them more susceptible to the outbreak of the Black Death. The Black Death originated in Asia, then moved westward into Sicily. From Sicily, the plague crept its way up through Europe infecting millions of people, in total killing more than one third of Europe’s population. In fact, over fifty percent of the population of Siena died, along with fifty percent of Paris, eighty percent of Florence, and over two thirds of Venice.
Extreme measures and practices were adopted in an attempt to combat this disease. These methods varied in both extremes from indulging in pleasures to partaking in severe penance. Prejudge came forth when Christians attributed the disease to the Jewish people. Feudal systems that has been lingering was torn apart when many serfs simply abandoned the land. Labor was growing scarce due to the deaths and price and wage controls were set up to prevent higher wages.