Black Death

The Black Death was a plague that devastated Europe during the 14th and 15th Century. Before the plague, Europe was in the Late Middle Ages, a time of both development and problems. Some of these problems were causes of the plague. The Black Death has changed Europe economically by causing people to pay for religious services, making nobles pay higher wages to peasants and serfs and helping peasants gain money. Socially, the Black Death caused the downfall of feudalism and created discrimination amongst certain groups of people. Overall, the Black Death was an event that altered Europe.
Before the Black Death, Europe was experiencing a time where they both developed and had problems. Cities became larger, weather conditions were great, and trade routes were expanded. However, overpopulation was common in towns and therefore, food shortages occurred and cleanliness was scarce ("Craig et al. 313"). In addition, a plague that initially began in Asia started spreading across Europe after merchants from the city of Kaffa passed on the plague to Italian ports such as Genoa and Venice ("Plague Decimates European Population, 1347-1352."). Once it reached Europe, it killed around 50 million people (Benedictow). Due to many problems such as famine and overpopulation, the plague was bigger than what it could have been.

There were many social changes that occurred in Europe during the time of the Black Death. One of these changes was the end of feudalism. Feudalism was the social structure that most European nations used. It involved the king giving power to his nobles who then had peasants and serfs work in their land. During the Black Death, a peasant revolt took place because nobles lowered wages even though the peasants had to work more due to the rising death tolls. Due to the revolt, peasants gained more power and job opportunities and consequently, it readjusted the social system of Europe and ended feudalism. Another social change that ensued during the Black Death was ignorant hatred against Jews. The Jews were blamed by many people to be responsible for the plague to be rapidly spreading because they were not as greatly affected by the plague as the Christians (Feld). This resulted into many hate crimes, including the Strausberg incident where 2,000 Jews were burnt to death. The plague also caused changes in education. Since the student and teacher population dropped, many colleges had to be closed down. However, the interest in education increased and new courses and institutions replaced the older ones that were shut down (Shively, A and Shively, J.).

Throughout the Black Death, the economy in Europe had changed as well. During the Black Death, there was an increase in revenue for the church. Many people went to churches to look for religious guidance and set up services which helped them gain money. Also, since the plague made the serf population drop, nobles had to pay higher wages to serfs in order to keep them in their possession ("Craig et al. 314"). Additionally, peasants took control of estates that were left abandoned by the dead. When the Black Death was going on, the economy had to adjust and this was a positive or a negative depending on who you are.

Furthermore, the Black Death had an undisputed effect on Europe economically and socially. It aided to the downfall of feudalism, effected 14th and 15th century Anti-Semitism and in a way brought up interest in education. It also caused an increase in revenue for the church, helped peasants and serfs economically and created problems involving wages and property with the nobles. The Black Death may have very well been one of the biggest postholes in modern history.