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Name
Dr. Oberrieder
HUM-2113: Humanities I
November 30, 2017
Significance of the Black Death
In the wake of the fourteenth century, Europe and the world experienced one of its

biggest pandemics. Over the preceding centuries, Europe had undergone significant agricultural,

economic and religious developments. However, the 400 years between 1000 and 1400 saw a

rapid increment in population and the onset of war as people scrambled for scarce resources from

75 to close to 210 million. Also, it was accompanied by religious scandals. It led to widespread

unsustainability, causing pollution, plague-like diseases and turmoil in the affected regions. The

image below shows the areas that were affected.

However, the demise of approximately 76 million people from 1346 to 1353 culminated

in the most severe catastrophe to ever hit Europe. It was referred to as the Black Death. This

essay critically analyses the significance of the Black Death pandemic.

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Before the catastrophe, Europe was developing fast agriculturally due to the various

innovations in farming equipment in Britain. The inventions made in the thirteenth century in the

United Kingdom formed the basis for the Agrarian Revolution of the Eighteenth century

(Campbell 23). However, the Black Death slowed down the process as many workers died.

Therefore, it meant that agricultural growth would not be pursued at the same rate. Also, the

economy of Europe was significantly affected by the Black Death pandemic. It occurred at a

time when trade between China, Italy, North America, Germany, Russia and Britain was at the

prime. In fact, the slump in the economic progress and status of European countries dropped at

the time and had never fully recovered (Campbell 86). It is the reason why United States of

America and China are far ahead of any or all European countries regarding economic progress

and technological innovations. The Black Death took a toll in Europe and slowed down its

growth.

The diseases that consumed over 7000 people per day in Russia spread fast. Over just

seven years, the population of Europe had significantly reduced. However, the survivors of the

plague benefitted due to the shortage of labor. Only a few physically strong and capable

remained on the European continent. It ensured that there was competition for their services.

Therefore, the masters who availed better conditions were the priority recipients of labor services

on their fields (DeWitte 128). The Russian, Spaniard, Italian and Germany landowners had to

travel far and wide to get a handful of workers to till their farms at least for a day. Moreover,

they had to adjust the wage upwards to retain their services for more than a day. Also, the

conditions of work had to change as workers demanded reduction of working hours. Hence, the

Black Death presented a niche for the survivors and laborers from nearby territories.
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Black Death influenced population distribution. Before the occurrence of the subject

catastrophe, Italy was home to both gentiles and Jews (Jedwab et al. 57). However, water

pollution due to the population increase caused the death of many people. However, with a tinge

of peculiarity, the mortality rates of Jews was considered to be lower. Therefore, gentiles

accused Jews of water poisoning. Thus, many Jews were forced to emigrate to Poland and the

Eastern parts of Russia for safety (Jedwab et al. 97). The population of Jews in Poland and

Russia is still considerably high up to date. Also, the healthcare industry was awakened by the

deaths during the Black Death. The primary cause of the deaths was the disease caused by

Yersinia pestis, a bacteria spread by insect and mice bites. Since then, vaccines have been

developed to prevent such a menace from recurring.

The occurrences of Black Death caused rifts in the Catholic Church. With the death of

priests and many of the congregation, people started to lose faith in the church. Over the years,

they believed that Christianity was capable of solving any problem through spiritual acclaim and

professing the name of God. In fact, the death of about 74 million people caused a few to have

doubts concerning their spiritual inclination. If the disease could not spare the priests, what of

common men (Ziegler 45). What was the essence of trusting in God? Those were various

questions raised in retrospect. After the pandemic, the rifts in the Catholic Church were visible.

Therefore, the Black Death formed the basis for consideration of formation of the present day

Adventists and Protestants (Ziegler 64). They accused the Catholic priests of not praying enough.

In life situations such as those make people doubt the will of God in the experiences they go

through.

In summary, the Black Death pandemic was a devastating time for the whole of Europe

and various other parts of the world affected indirectly. From slowing the economic and
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agricultural growth of the European countries, mild population distribution, development of

vaccines to the growth of doubts in the Catholic Church's and God's power, Black Death bore

major significance on the course of lives. Its aftermath caused a shortage of labor hence better

wages for workers. More importantly, strides have been made to avert the occurrence of similar

pandemics of such magnitude and significance.

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Work Cited

Campbell, Bruce MS. "The European Mortality Crises of 1346–52 and Advent of the Little Ice

Age." Famines During the ʻLittle Ice Ageʼ (1300-1800). Springer, Cham, 2018. 19-41.

DeWitte, Sharon N. "Mortality risk and survival in the aftermath of the medieval Black Death."

PloS one 9.5 (2014): e96513.

Jedwab, Remi, Noel Johnson, and Mark Koyama. Economic Shocks, Inter-Ethnic

Complementarities and the Persecution of Minorities: Evidence from the Black Death.

Mimeo, 2016.

Ziegler, Philip. The black death. Faber & Faber, 2013.