2006-10-28 23:25:12 · 6 answers · asked by chris j 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
In a nutshell and, referring to the outbreak in the Middle Ages,
1. Harvests remained uncollected leading to starvation in towns and cities
2. Labour resource was drastically reduced
3. Economic power moved towards tradesmen and agricultural workers due to the above as they could charge higher prices
4. The Feudal Law was flouted, peasants left their land in search of better pay elsewhere
5. Government introduced the Ordinance of Labourers to curb peasants roaming the countryside and to control prices
6. It could be argues that 5 led to the Peasant's Revolt in 1381
7. Death of around 40% of the priesthood and a failure of religion to stop the disease led to a decline in the power of the church
The link to the BBC History website is a good general starter for more research and background information
2006-10-28 23:43:43 · answer #1 · answered by the_lipsiot 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hello. Economically, the Black Death helped to plunge Europe's feudal system into ruin. There were fewer peasants to farm for their lords anymore, so many of the lords then had no way to keep themselves wealthy, or any money to give to their King. When the King had less money from his knights, he had less money to develop his nation.
Feudal System -that's an economy where peasants work the land and give part of their harvest to a knight or king for future protection in the knight's castle-
Socially the Black Death (Bubonic Plague) made a dent in power bases for the church of the time. The people back then had no idea what caused the plague, so they assumed it was the wrath of God on them for sinning. Some spent more time being religious, but the church still lost power to rule the nation (King). People began to question religion's power.The years of the Black Death also created a time in history reffered to as the Dark Ages. Not many educated people were left to document history for the future, so the time was a void in history.
2006-10-28 23:59:43 · answer #2 · answered by matenmoe 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Approximately one third of the population died from the Black Death. As a result, roughly one third of the labor force was gone. This resulted in higher labor costs and inflation. It also meant that serfs from the country side moved to the cities in search of work that was readily available. Also, the serfs became more demanding of the Feudal Lords and this created class tensions.
Those who survived the Black Death found themselves in a better economic situation because of this demand for better treatment. They got higher wages and as I have said had higher mobility.
Landlords and merchants, unlike the serfs, were hurt economically because they now had to pay higher wages and and demand was declining.
Much land used for crops was converted to sheep pasture so the need for expensive labor could be cut and more prophet made. Many peasants were then out of a job and home.
Many of the Christian leaders who really had a heart for living out the Christian faith died because they had been helping those with the disease and then caught it themselves. As a result, the more bureaucratic leaders of the Church were left behind to run it.
2006-10-29 01:06:43 · answer #3 · answered by green_kiwi18 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Black Death wiped out, at least, a third of the population of Europe. Thus, families abandoned each other to escape the plague, essential services collapsed, law and order (with so many administrators dead or fled) ceased to exist in some areas. People searched for a scapegoat and once again singled out Jews for persecution. Agriculture came to a standstill. Corpses piled up because no one wanted to risk the illness by burying them. Entire villages were depopulated and entire families were wiped out. The survivors were so afraid that they were demoralized. People tried cures that made things worse. Mass hysteria became endemic to much of Europe.
2006-10-31 02:44:21 · answer #4 · answered by lani 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An old book, but still an excellent one if you can find it. Hans Zinser, "Rats, Lice and History." I think it was published here in translation about 1936.
He was a German-Jew epidemiologist, and a genuine scholar. In those days, many physician had libraries rather than accountants.
2006-10-29 03:13:10 · answer #5 · answered by john s 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ur joking right ?
economical - when ppl die they dont work and dont make money
goverment spend money on religion (last thing that could help)
social - all scared, suspect everyone, panic, depressed
thats called plague lol, virus infects person by person
without antidote (middle ages)
2006-10-28 23:41:42 · answer #6 · answered by newmike_2004 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋