Positive Effects Of The Black Death In Medieval Europe

The Positive Effects of the Black Death

The Black Death was the fear-inducing disease that struck medieval Europe. Nevertheless, positive effects can emerge from what is described as nothing but a catastrophe. The Black Death was the most fatal plague in history and forever changed the course of Europe's society. Before the epidemic, the Roman Catholic Church was seen as all-powerful and was obeyed by most citizens. In addition, jobs were scarce and pay was not enough to sustain families. Those in the lower class were likely to remain that way for their entire life. Medicinal knowledge was also insufficient, and could not keep up with the raging plague. Although many see the Black Death as a colossal disaster, with more than one-fourth of the

Lifestyles improved due to the Black Death by eliminating the manorial system, which redistributed wealth, and gave women more opportunities. A common way of work in medieval Europe was the manorial system. The manorial system is when a landlord gives an individual food and a place to stay in exchange for their labor. Due to the scarcity of jobs, one's only option may be serfhood. Serfhood is when a farmer is bound to a plot of land and the will of his landlord, and in exchange for one’s work, one receives food and a place to stay. Once the Black Death wiped out a large majority of the working class, it opened up opportunities for higher-paying jobs with better working environments. Higher-paying jobs gave the lower class more opportunities to raise their salaries and lead a better life. Though many passed due to the plague, the material world was intact, which meant more resources were available to survivors, better living conditions, and competitive wages for workers. Those stuck in the manorial system now had more options for money-paying jobs and were not tied to their landlord. Peasants demanding higher-paying jobs eventually led to an end to the manorial system and gave them the freedom and

According to Giovanni Boccaccio; “or that the physicians. . .could form no just idea of the cause, nor consequently ground a true method of cure”. Medicinal knowledge was scarce and doctors were scarcer. Those who desired to become doctors were the only ones who were taught anatomy and given the resources to learn about medicine. The study of anatomy was forbidden by the Church, but many turned their backs and chose to disobey the Church once the plague hit. Anatomy was now beginning to be taught in universities. Due to the fall of the Church, the study of anatomy became more common. Citizens who wondered about human anatomy now had the resources to go and learn about it, instead of blindly believing whatever the Church said. It was also taught in universities, which educated the future of Europe, which led to new ideas and further convinced the citizens that the Roman Catholic Church was not all-knowing. As well as the spread of medicinal knowledge, doctors began to reconsider the cause of the plague. With more citizens learning about medicine, many began to question why the plague was spreading. As doctors observed the effect of the plague on society and how quickly it spread and killed, they began to rethink how diseases