The Black Death:
The impacts of The Black Death on society.!
Oxford big ideas, Chapter 7, PDF available on website. pp.320-322!
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A painting by Josse
Lieferinx, called “St.
Sebastian Interceding for
the Plague Stricken.”!
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This is one example of
how the plague turned
the faithful into more
strict believers because
of the help they received.!
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For others this caused
heresy, or the disillusion
and questioning of their
faith, the church and
Church leaders.!
Cause and Effect Analysis Method!
This strategy allows authors to connect and explain different events in history. In this
case we have the cause, The Black Death, now we have to identify and explain the
effects. These effects can be categorised into three generic fields!
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Social - Any effects on the daily lives of the people or any aspects of their culture. This
may include food, religion, relaxation activities, art and literature. !
Political- Obviously this is anything to do with politics and power. Who had power? Who
now has power? What has caused this shift?!
Economic- What is the change in the economy? How and what effect did this cause?!
It is important to remember that these can be inter-linked and are not completely
TBD- SHORT TERM EFFECTS
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The immediate impacts of the plague touched every aspect of society. The Black
plague planted the seeds for many historical events, namely the end of feudalism, The
Peasants Revolt and The Reformation. !
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The Black plague had an enormous impact on the Church. The Church grew rich
from the desperate donations of the sick. However, the ministers,pastors and church
members were heavily effected by the death toll of TBD. Many new and inexperienced
people filled their positions and brought with them corruption, greed and a host of
immorality. Many people also stopped attending Church because they saw the plague as
a punishment from god, or they saw the inability of the Church to protect the people and
consequently lost their faith in the Church!
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Famine was a major short term consequence from The Black Plague. The expansion
of the middle ages had reached its limit by 1300. The good farmland was overwork and
the new farmland was unproductive. Society was struggling to supply the resources for
he expanding society. Now TBD had killed of the young workers as a result the fields we
unsown, stock untended and manufacturing houses were empty. The lack of Human
resources was now the source of famine and resource shortages. To make the problem
worse Europe was in a mini ice age, with an average temperature drop of one degree, so
the demand for resources was even higher than normal and the ability to produce was
reduced. Hunger effected all of the classes in society, no law or social barriers could
protect them from hunger, it was to accidentally bring equality. Those that survived and
inherited land now had a new found wealth and power, this phenomena would be the
start of the end for feudalism.!
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Why did The Black Death cause Heresy?
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TBD- SHORT TERM EFFECTS
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In you opinion what was the largest short term effect of The Black Death?
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Why do you think the movement redistribution of land would cause the end of
feudalism?
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What was another way that the surviving peasants could large amounts of money?
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Source analysis!
It was thought that the people… having seen the extermination of [death] of their neighbours and of
all the nations of the world… would become better, humble and virtuous and catholic, avoiding any
iniquities and sins overflowing with love and charity for one another… The opposite happened.
Men, finding themselves few and rich by inheritance and successions of earthly things, forgetting
the past as if it never was, gave themselves to the most disordered and sordid behaviour than ever
before. !
Define three words you do not know in this passage.!
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Is this primary extract accurate?!
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TBD- SHORT TERM EFFECTS
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TBD- SHORT TERM EFFECTS
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