The Black Death

Definition

The Black Death was a devastating pandemic of bubonic plague that swept through Europe and Asia in the mid-14th century, killing an estimated 25 to 30 million people. This catastrophic event significantly impacted society, economy, and culture, including the literary landscape of the time, particularly influencing writers like Geoffrey Chaucer.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Black Death arrived in Europe around 1347 and lasted until the early 1350s, decimating approximately one-third of Europe's population.
2. The widespread death led to labor shortages, causing shifts in economic power and social structure, which ultimately contributed to the decline of feudalism.
3. Art and literature began to reflect the themes of death and mortality more profoundly after the Black Death, paving the way for new literary styles and subjects.
4. Geoffrey Chaucer's works often reflected societal changes that arose from the pandemic, illustrating shifts in social dynamics and human experiences.
5. The pandemic triggered a wave of religious fervor, superstition, and scapegoating, leading to persecution against marginalized groups such as Jews, who were wrongly blamed for spreading the plague.

Review Questions

• How did the Black Death influence social structures in medieval Europe?
  • The Black Death caused a significant decrease in population, leading to labor shortages that weakened the feudal system. With fewer workers available, peasants found themselves in a better bargaining position for wages and conditions. This shift contributed to a gradual decline in feudalism and allowed for greater mobility among the lower classes, changing traditional social hierarchies.
• Discuss how Geoffrey Chaucer's writing reflects the impact of the Black Death on society.
  • Chaucer's works often illustrate themes of mortality and human experience influenced by the aftermath of the Black Death. In 'The Canterbury Tales,' characters grapple with issues of class, morality, and human folly amidst societal upheaval. The narrative style showcases a range of perspectives reflective of a society dealing with loss and change, highlighting how literature adapted to express contemporary concerns.
• Evaluate the long-term effects of the Black Death on European culture and literature.
  • The long-term effects of the Black Death on European culture included significant shifts in artistic expression, as themes of death became more prevalent in literature and art. This period paved the way for the emergence of Humanism during the Renaissance, as people sought to understand their humanity in light of suffering. The resulting change in worldview led to a greater focus on individual experience and classical learning, profoundly shaping Western literature and culture for generations.

Related terms

Bubonic Plague: A highly infectious and often deadly disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, typically transmitted through fleas from infected animals.

Feudalism:

A social and economic system prevalent in medieval Europe, where the nobility held land from the crown in exchange for military service, and peasants worked the land for their lords.

Humanism: A cultural and intellectual movement during the Renaissance that emphasized the value of human beings and focused on classical literature, art, and education, emerging as a response to the devastation caused by events like the Black Death.