Ms. nyeme Essay

Submitted By funnymagic
Words: 324
Pages: 2

AP Euro

the Effects of the Black Death
During the mid­fourteenth century, the Black Death evoked fear and sickness as it spread through Europe. The Black Death had brought social and economical changes to many aspects of life. It had spread throughout the entire continent in three years, going through the trade routes from Italy to
Scandinavia. It had changed the way the people of Europe looked at life whether that meant neglecting responsibilities or by punishing themselves in order to receive God's forgiveness and be spared from the plague.
Because most of Eurasia was brought under a single rule by the Mongols, long ­ distance trading became possible. This had given the disease the opportunity to travel across the the continent at a rapid pace. Europe's workforce had decreased dramatically because of the plague spread so quickly, causing the price of labor to increase. Along with that the cost of goods was lowered and the gap between peasants and aristocrats diminished. The aristocrats, feeling threatened, hd lowered wages and imposed new taxes on the citizens. The peasants were angered and responded by gathering and having riots in the streets, murdering governments officials or nobles, and burning down their houses.
To some citizens , the propinquity of death made life seem ephemeral. Many decided to simply live in the moment and drink or party through the night, spend their money carelessly and take what they want. Violence and preoccupation