2.6.2

The Impact of the Black Death

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Impact of the Black Death

The plague killed a huge proportion of the population. It also led to food shortages (and higher food prices because of this). This made life even more difficult for the people who survived the Black Death.

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Devastation

  • 30-45% of the British population are estimated to have died from the Black Death.
    • Whole towns were killed by the Black Death.
  • The Church was harmed because lots of experienced priests died. New clergymen demanded higher wages.
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Impact on peasants

  • The Black Death killed lots of workers. Peasants asked for higher wages and moved around to earn higher wages.
  • The cost of buying land fell because of the lower population and this allowed some peasants to buy land.
  • The 1349 Ordinance of Labourers tried to stop peasants moving around so much.
    • Some historians think these kinds of measures and the Black Death contributed to the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381.
Illustrative background for The end of the Black Death?Illustrative background for The end of the Black Death? ?? "content

The end of the Black Death?

  • The worst of the Black Death was over by 1350.
    • But plagues continued for centuries. The worst example was the Great Plague of 1665.

Jump to other topics

1Empires East & West: 1000 AD

1.1The Rise & Fall of Ancient China’s Empire

1.2The Medieval Greatness of the Byzantine Empire

1.3The Golden Age of the Islamic Empire

1.4The Politics & Power of the Holy Roman Empire

1.5Medieval Religion

1.6The Influence of the Church in Medieval Times

1.7How Religion Tested the Power of Kings

1.8Dynastic Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.9Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.10Revolts, Rebellions & Rights

1.11Medieval England & Her Neighbours

1.12European Renaissance

1.13Norman Conquest & Control

1.14Historical Skills

2The Medieval World: 450-1450 AD

2.1Anglo-Saxon England

2.2The Contest for the English Throne

2.3Conquering the Holy Land, 10-96-1396 AD

2.4King John

2.5The Magna Carta & Parliament

2.6The Black Death

3Worldviews

4The Empire of Mali: 1076-1670 AD

5The Renaissance & Reformations: 1500-1598 AD

6The British Empire: 1583-1960 AD

7The Peasants' Revolt: 1381 AD

8Religion in the Middle Ages

9Slavery: 1619-1833 AD

10The English Civil War: 1642-1660 AD

11The Industrial Revolution: 1750-1840 AD

12US Independence: 1775-1783 AD

13The French Revolution: 1789-1815 AD

14The British Empire: 1857–1930 AD

15Suffrage: 1840-1928 AD

16World War 1: 1914-1918 AD

17The Inter-War Years: 1919-1939 AD

18World War 2: 1939-1945 AD

19The Cold War: 1947-1962 AD

20Civil Rights in the USA: 1954-1975 AD

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