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Difficulty: MediumThe Black Death and Social Change

Following the arrival of the Black Death in 1348, the massive loss of life fundamentally altered the relationship between the peasantry and the nobility in Britain. What specific economic shift occurred because of the resulting shortage of workers, contributing to the eventual decline of the feudal system?

  1. The surviving peasants were able to demand higher wages and greater personal freedom from their landowners.Answer
  2. B
    Landowners used the crisis to impose stricter feudal obligations and successfully lowered the pay of the remaining workforce.
  3. C
    The nobility became significantly more powerful as they seized the property of those who had died during the 11th-century outbreak.
  4. D
    The urban merchant classes became the primary landowners, forcing the rural peasantry into industrial factory work.

Answer

The surviving peasants were able to demand higher wages and greater personal freedom from their landowners.
The arrival of the plague in 1348 caused a massive drop in the population. With far fewer workers available, those who survived were in a much stronger position to negotiate. They demanded higher wages and more rights, which the landowners were often forced to grant to ensure their fields were farmed. This increased mobility and economic power for the lower classes was a key factor in the eventual collapse of the rigid feudal system.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the historical context
The Black Death arrived in Britain in 1348.
Understanding the timeline is essential for connecting the event to its specific medieval consequences.
2
Analyze the demographic impact
A large proportion of the population died, leading to a massive reduction in the available workforce.
Population loss is the primary driver behind the subsequent economic shifts.
3
Evaluate the labor market response
Because workers were scarce, their value increased (supply and demand).
This explains why peasants could demand higher pay and better conditions.
4
Connect to the feudal system
The rigid structure of serfdom began to break down as peasants gained more independence and mobility.
Higher wages and freedom of movement directly undermined the traditional feudal hierarchy where peasants were tied to the land.

Key Concept

The economic empowerment of the peasantry due to labor shortages following the Black Death.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

The Black Death and Social Change

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