The arrival of the plague known as the Black Death in 1348 caused the death of about one-third of the population in Britain. Following this catastrophe, the resulting shortage of labor fundamentally changed the relationship between landowners and those who worked the land. How did this labor shortage directly contribute to social change during the Middle Ages?
- Survivors among the peasantry were able to demand higher wages and more freedom, which weakened the traditional feudal system.Answer
- BLandowners were able to significantly lower wages because there was less demand for food from a smaller surviving population.
- CThe feudal system became more powerful as peasants were forced to trade their remaining rights for protection from the disease.
- DThe plague, which first arrived in 1448, led to the immediate creation of a democratic parliament to replace the feudal lords.
Answer
The labor shortage following the 1348 plague allowed peasants to demand higher wages and more freedom, leading to the decline of the feudal system.
The correct answer identifies that the labor shortage created by the 1348 plague gave peasants the leverage to demand better pay and more personal freedom. This shift from a land-based economy to one more influenced by labor value directly contributed to the decline of the feudal system.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Socioeconomic consequences of the Black Death on the feudal hierarchy.
Estimated Time:1m 15s