The Black Plague

The Black Plague/ Death

Word Count: 1235

An event that played a significant role in the fourteenth century was devastation of The Black Death that hit Europe by surprise. Everything they knew at the time was affected religion, economy, music, and the art. It first started in 1347 and swept through Europe, this was during a time when medicine and diseases were not completely understood by the people, and this was during a time when religion and the churches were in control of the power. This made them start to believe that they were being subject to this as some sort of punishment for upsetting God. When in reality the cause of the outbreak was rodents infected with fleas that made their way over on trading ships. The churches lost followers due to the fact that they promised cures and treatments to the sick, but did not follow through with it and shunned the sick away scared they too would become infected. Basic religious rituals were not being carried out such as a normal funeral and burials. The churches not only lost many clergy but also faith in their religion and most of the followers. The Black Plague originated in Asia and was spread by the Mongol tribes. Other areas that were also affected were China and the Middle East.

The death for many was so quick for most that they died almost immediately after becoming infected. The Black Plague wiped out a third of the European population in total. With the increase of death it drastically changed the economy. The serfs and peasants were able to start competing with the wealthier families now, the lack of labor workers raised wages being earned. Those of the lower class who did survive were able to take over homes, land, and businesses that had been abandoned by the death of a family. This in turn along with the massive decrease in people drastically increased the middle class families. Some say this was the turning point for the modern era and the ending of the feudal system. The more well to do...