The Black Death resulted in greater economic
opportunities for the lower classes, increased
ethnic tensions, and provided monarchs an
opportunity to centralize their governments.
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The great loss in population improved the economic
opportunities for the lower classes
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The Black Death brought on a European-wide inflation, but labor
shortages meant that workers could demand better wages, and those
who survived enjoyed a higher standard of living.
The greater demand for labor also meant greater mobility for
peasants and artisans.
Ethnic tensions increased in the face of the Black Death.

During epidemic, it was common for Jews to be blamed; many were
murdered.
 Many people believed that Jews had poisoned the wells of Christian
communities
 Others thought that killing Jews would prevent the plague from
spreading to their town
 These beliefs led to the murder of thousands of Jews 3specially in
France and Germany
 In Strasbourg, several hundred were burned alive, houses looted, property
confiscated, and the remaining Jews were expelled from the city.

Concepts of ethnicity began to shape legislation throughout Europe.

Monarchs begin to seized direct control over
more territory
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the Black Death killed many of nobles and their
lands returned to the royal families
Kings now could administer larger territories with
the rise of professional paid armies thanks to the
cannon and longbow