black death essay Flashcards
what is the path of the plague
the horse riding mongols likely carried infected flees and rats in their food supplies as they swooped through China. The disease came with the merchants along the trade routes of Asia to southern Asia, southwest Asia, and Africa. In 1345-1346, a Mongol army besieged Kaffa. A year later, Italian merchants returned to Italy, unknowingly bringing the plague with them.
how was the economy affected
The economy was probably hit the hardest of all aspects of Europe. The biggest problem was that valuable artisan skills disappeared when large numbers of the working class died. The society structure began to change giving formally poor laborers more say. For example, the peasants and artisans demanded higher wages. The poor people saw so much death they wanted to enjoy life. Serfs began to leave their land and not engage in the planting of crops. Farming communities became rare.
how was church affected
One of the groups that suffered the most was the Christian church. They lost prestige, spiritual authority, and leadership over people. The church promised cures, treatment, and explanations for the plague, However, the priests and bishops did not have any answers for the people. Clergy abandoned their christian duties and fled. Some people even turned to religious fanatics called flagellants. After the plague ended, angry and frustrated villagers started to revolt against the church.
