Question

Discuss the effect of plague and famine on European society and economy two well written paragraphs no plagiarism.

Answer 1

The plague had large-scale social and economic effects, many of which are recorded in the Decameron's introduction. People are losing their friends and family, leaving towns and shutting away from the world. Funeral rites became perfunctory or completely stopped, and work stopped. Some felt that God's wrath descended upon man, and fought with prayer against the plague. Some felt they ought to obey the maxim, "Eat, drink, and be merry, you may die tomorrow." Society experienced upheaval to an extent that is usually seen only in controlled circumstances such as carnival.

Following the plague, faith in religion declined, both because of the death of so many clergy and because of the failure of prayer to prevent sickness and death. The economy's inflation was abrupt and extreme. Since procuring goods through trade and producing them was so difficult (and dangerous), the prices of both locally produced goods and those imported from afar skyrocketed. Workers were extremely scarce because of illness and death, so even the peasants felt the effects of the new wage increase. The demand for people to work the land was so strong that the manor's holdings were threatened. Serfs were no longer tied to a master; if one left the estate, they would automatically be hired by another lord. In order to make the situation more profitable for the peasants and thus keep them on their land, the lords had to make changes. In general, wages outstripped prices and subsequently the standard of living

Social distinctions sharpened as a result of the start of blurring financial distinctions. The nobility's fashions became more extravagant to emphasize the person wearing the clothing's social standing. When the aristocracy tried to resist the changes brought about by the plague, the peasants became slightly more empowered and revolted. Northern France's peasantry rioted in 1358, and disenfranchised members of the guild revolted in 1378. Europe's social and economic structure has changed dramatically and irreversibly.