Humanities

• It is unknown exactly how many people died as a result of the Black Death. In China, the population is believed to have dropped from 125 million to 90 million.
• It is also difficult to now how many people died as a result of the Black Death and how many people died as a result of other factors (old age, other diseases etc.)
• Historians currently believe that the Black Death killed between 33-40% of Europe's population, with higher death rates in rural areas.
• Church records provide some details about births deaths but it is difficult to know how accurate these are.
• 50-75% of population in Florence died
• 60% population of Venice died.
• The true scale of the Black Death's mortality remains shrouded in some mystery. While estimates suggest a staggering 33-40% decline in Europe's population, with some regions like Florence and Venice experiencing even greater losses (up to 75%), pinpointing the exact cause of death can be challenging. Distinguishing between plague victims and those succumbing to other illnesses further complicates the picture. Although church records offer glimpses into birth and death rates, their accuracy is uncertain.
• Medieval streets were filthy with rubbish and sewerage before the plague, but once the plague struck, it became even worse.
• Tradesmen, craftsmen, cleaners and officials died along with everyone else, so there were not people around to keep up repairs or maintain proper order.
• People fled their houses , leaving them dirty and rundown
• The towns were filthy and full with rubbish and poor sewerage before the plague started. This helped the plague to spread around quickly and made the situation even worse.
• Many ordinary people became disappointed and angry in the church as they felt letdown by their religious leaders. This weakened the church's position in society.
• Some monasteries and religious centres were accused of being places improper conduct and greed, rather than places devoted to God.
• Scared of being infected by the plague, some priests fled their parish and abandoned their townspeople in their time of need.
• Many monks, priests and nuns also died as a result of the Black Death
• This reinforced the idea that it was not only common folk who had displeased God, but also religious people.
• Clergies all across Europe lost many members.
• There was a loss of priest s
• Some priests even refused to bury plague victims in fear that they too would be infected.
• The Black Death Death was killing people so quickly that there was no time for proper burials or religious ceremonies.
• Instead, mass burials became common, where the dead were placed into large pits and covered with earth
• Due to the massive drop in population drastically affected trade, manufacturing, and the production of food from the land.
• Many skilled labourers and craftsmen are standing on short supply.
• The survivors who had been trained in different trades were highly valued by people and employers. They now have more bargaining power and, hence, more social status.
• In summary this situation helped to weaken the system of feudalism. Hence, workers in town could demand higher wages.
• Due to lack of peasants African slave was brought to Europe by Portuguese captains Antão Gonçalves and Nuno Tristãno in Cabo Branco.
• The most immediate impact was a massive population decline. Estimates suggest Europe lost up to half its population. Villages were abandoned, and labor shortages became widespread.
• With fewer workers, the bargaining chip shifted to the remaining laborers. Wages increased, and serfdom began to decline in Western Europe as landowners competed for workers.
• The plague disrupted trade routes and caused a temporary economic slump. However, in the long run, it may have spurred innovation and exploration of new trade routes.
• The shift in labor power created opportunities for social mobility, particularly for peasants who could now demand better working conditions.
• The plague fueled anxieties about death and the afterlife. Some turned to religious extremism, while others blamed minorities like Jews and foreigners for spreading the disease, leading to persecution.
• Art and literature in some regions began to reflect a preoccupation with mortality and the afterlife.
• While the plague didn't immediately lead to major medical advancements, it did highlight the need for better sanitation and public health measures. However, significant progress in these areas wouldn't occur for centuries.
• The experience of the Black Death left a lasting psychological scar on European society. The fear of plague outbreaks persisted for centuries, shaping social behaviors and policies.
• so many peasants died so this led to the peasants being worth more and they demanded for more wages and better living.
• Over supply in food for some places.
• Farming changed from wheat and barley to sheep and cate to be more of a common farming animal.
• As a result of the population decrease feudalism declined and become
• A wild spread loss of faith and a weakening of the Church's authority in the community.
• The medical knowledge in Europe during the Black Death fell behind other countries.