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The Black Death Plague In The Medieval Period

1590 Words7 Pages

Dukes and kings were forced to bargain with their laborers about working conditions. Moreover, the lower classes could demand for better pay for their services. In some areas, wages rose, doubling within a period of just one year. At the same time, prices of commodities fell because fewer people bought the commodities. Therefore, the middle class lords were entangled between falling revenue and rising production costs. This prompted them to force a price-squeeze, and when they failed, most of them surrendered and sold their properties, including estates. The outcome was a social upheaval, which accelerated the social evolution trend. To be specific, the Black Death took a toll on the society, effectively ending the feudal system in Europe. …show more content…

The direct consequence was immense population reduction. Additionally, trade declined as individuals avoided trading goods with a previously plague infested nation. All these aspects contributed to the reduction of Europe’s prosperity. In the medieval period, the plague was seen as an all-destroying. Through the loss of one-third of Europe’s population, a tiny pathogen toppled the region’s socio-economic framework, altering the medieval society forever. Although the negative effects of the pandemic are greater than the positive effects, it is argued that the disease balanced Europe’s population for the future. The disease portrayed the might of European continent, including its will to withstand a crisis. To this end, it could be hard to believe but there were also some positive consequences associated with the Black Death. As it appears, manpower was of great value than it was before. Suddenly, peasants were not available in large numbers and the nobles could not secure the required workforce to plant their seeds and harvest their crops. Therefore, the medieval peasant was plunged in a state of unprecedented and unexpected demand, a change that over shook Europe’s society to its

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