Black Death Dbq

The black death was a bubonic plague that wiped out a third of Europe’s population from 1347 to 1351. It was originally believed to have been caused by fleas on rats in Black Sea ships that traded with Europe from Central Asia’s steppes. However, recent studies using teeth models suggest this pandemic was primarily caused by human fleas from China and along the trade routes. People have tried to combat the plague in many ways. Some believed flowers and herbs would ward off the bad air and therefore went about carrying bouquets with them. They lived their remaining life to the fullest and did pleasant things. On the other hand, others thought isolation was the best way to go and decided to cut themselves off from everyone, including their

Firstly, the black death improved women and peasants’ lifestyle. This helped establish a society that would soon develop into our current world. One reason is because the black death caused a severe population decline. Due to the rising demand for workers, women were able to find jobs and work easily. It became possible for women to start their own business; historians acknowledge one woman who started out as a blacksmith. Therefore, women gained more freedom in their lives. They could choose what job they wanted, and they could also choose who and when to marry. Consequently, women during the aftermath of the black death may actually have been happy and content with their lives. Moreover, the high demand for jobs also resulted in a significantly higher wage than before for both genders. This meant peasants’ lifestyle was greatly enriched. Some bought or rented spare land that once belonged to a deceased owner. From their new land, peasants became richer and

Others were able to negotiate with them and agree to pay him instead of working for him. The less fortunate ones remained as villeins and continued to work for his lord for forty days without pay each year. Although the Statute of Labourers in 1351 banned peasants from being payed more than he was before the black death, it can be argued that more and more peasants were attaining freedom after the plague. However, tension and anger arose within peasants after this new law was legislated. This contributed to the Peasants’ Revolt along with the levying of the poll tax in 1381. Although the uprising failed and disturbed Britain’s economy, it succeeded in preventing further levying of the poll tax because the rich realised they could not take advantage of the peasants too much. (The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica, 2017) (Bitesize,