Black Death Flashcards
(7 cards)
What was the Black Death?
The Black Death (1347-1351) was one of the deadliest pandemics in history, killing millions across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Its effects were huge and long-lasting.
What was the population loss due to the Black Death?
Between one third and one half of Europe’s population died, with some villages and towns completely wiped out.
How did the Black Death affect work and wages?
Surviving peasants could demand higher wages due to fewer workers available, leading to better treatment from lords and a decline of the feudal system.
What social and political changes occurred after the Black Death?
The power of the nobility weakened, and ordinary people felt more confident demanding better treatment, contributing to events like the Peasants’ Revolt (1381).
What impact did the Black Death have on towns and cities?
Many cities shrank due to the high death toll, while some towns recovered quickly and grew richer because of less competition for resources.
How did the Black Death change people’s views on religion?
Many questioned their faith as prayers hadn’t stopped the plague, leading to increased religiosity in some groups and loss of trust in the Church, with violent attacks against minority groups.
What new ideas and cultural changes emerged from the Black Death?
The Black Death led to a new way of thinking about life and death, influencing art and literature to focus on death and fragility of life, and some historians believe it helped pave the way for the Renaissance.
