Economic_Ramifications_of_the_Black_Death

The economic ramifications of the Black Death were significantly boosted by the circumstances under which it arrived. On the eve of the Black Death’s arrival the population growth of the High Middle Ages was pressing against the European societies ability to feed itself, which had also been undercut by climate change and famine. As the agricultural sector declined Europe was hit with an outbreak of the haemorrhagic plague, commonly referred to as the Black Death (Duncan, Scott 315). The effects of the Black Death would quickly bring the agricultural sector of the Middle Ages crashing down and would nearly take the entire economy with it. The reliance of the European society on the agrarian economy cannot be overlooked when considering the overall socioeconomic effect of the Black Death. The economic effects of the Black Death on the European agrarian society produced by mixture of preceding events and direct affects of mass population loss would ultimately diminish economic impediments and create new opportunity. The economic climate of pre-Black Death Europe is not brightened by hindsight, as it is still a very bleak time period even when compared to the events that immediately followed it. The overpopulation produced by an explosion in population growth that was aided in the advancement of agricultural technology was actually straining the limits of societies ability to feed itself. This led to a number of things including rising contract holdings, which aided by rising impoverishment not only spread cultivation to low-fertility lands but created a demand that would be met by the owners of the more fertile lands (Routt 2). Unfortunately the suppliers eagerness to appease the demand and generate money led not only to a loss in fertile land but would in the long run prove to be very detrimental to the yield of grain (2). This along with climate change and famine pushed the agrarian economy to the edge, to only be pushed over by the arrival of the Black Death. In a society where nine out of ten rural workers eked out a living from the land a collapse of the agricultural sector would inevitably change the social and economic structure of said society (2). Another development of the pre-Black Death period is the extreme polarization of classes. In the time shortly before the arrival of the Black Death the aristocratic class was smaller and richer than it had been in a medium scope of history. And because the working class received their payment almost solely from the nobles a decline in the mega wealthy would see the loss of the working class’ pay check. The decline of the agrarian economy, the working class’ increasing dependence on the wealthy, and overpopulation would eventually give way to a time of economic growth and an overall creation of opportunity, all brought about by the catastrophic Black Death. The Black Death’s role as a transformative socioeconomic event would come about undoubtedly in the catastrophe’s terrible course and wake. One of the most immediate affects of the Black Death was the extreme loss in population (Spielvogel 301). Although for a short while the loss in population would have eased the strain on the agricultural sector it would quickly become so extreme that there were not enough workers either willing or alive to work on the farms. The loss of population was what eventually would push the economic problems of the pre-Black Death period over the edge and drag the economy down. Before the loss in population the problems of unfertile lands, low yield grains, and climate change were offset with a sheer amount of work force. But now with not enough people to upkeep an already failing agricultural sector the agrarian economy would undoubtedly fall further and be able to provide even less for society. The second effect that the extreme loss in population brought upon by the Black Death had was upon the aristocratic class. One of the affects of the loss in population was that the peasant class was now freer to move about the job market and was no longer chained to one manor. This forced the pay wages of the peasants up. At this same time the loss of population also saw a major loss in tenants for manors, which inevitably resulted in a loss of fiscal revenue for the aristocracy. To add to the aristocrats’ woes the demand for goods sharply dived after the large loss in population, and with it took the average price of goods. These three factors combined to initiate a period in which the aristocracy hemorrhaged money (Spielvogel 301). Sizable amounts of the aristocracy were unable to stop the money loss, and were actually impoverished. The loss of aristocrats also resulted in the loss of a source of revenue for the working class. The economy could handle a short period of this, but after so many loses of revenue sources, and a failure for the revenues to be replaced the economy would begin to strain. The decline of nobles allowed for the peasants to rise in social as well as economic stature, and this would prove to be one of the long-term effects of the Black Death. The epidemic of the Black Death helped bring about major social and economic reforms that would flourish in the Renaissance. The European economy at the end of the Middle Ages differed fundamentally from that of the pre-plague society (Routt 2). Instead of a strictly agrarian economy the economy was based upon agriculture, trade, and ranching (6). All three of the bases of the post plague economy could in some way trace their implementations back to circumstances surrounding the Black Death. The new balance of wealth, which now included the working class, gave the peasants buying power (6). The increased power of the peasants allowed for a series of revolts against the established aristocracy to arise. With economic opportunity now spread throughout the classes the impeded economy and restricted social structure of the pre-Black Death gave way to a new era of prosperity that would only grow larger in the Renaissance. Although the Black Death was a strong transgressive socioeconomic event it should not be accounted solely for the changes of the High Middle Ages. It was both preceded and succeeded by events that it only acted as a moving force for, but in truth socioeconomic change had been building in Europe long before any boils were spotted. In the period succeeding the Black Death a large degree of survivors benefited from the technological and commercial skills developed in the High Middle Ages. Although the Black Death was a tragedy in all aspects it may have possibly brought about the greatest social and economic reform of the pre-Renaissance era. Work Cited Routt, David. "The Economic Impact of the Black Death | Economic History Services." EH.Net | Economic History Services. 04 Feb. 2004. Web. 03 Apr. 2011.