essay questions chap 6

The Black Death contributed to social, economic, and political change.

1. Discuss how the Black Death contributed to social, economic, and political change during

the Late Middle Ages.

• Many people died of the Black Death in Europe : about 25 million people – or 30% to 60% of the population

– The Black Death contributed to social, economic, and political change.

1. Discuss how the Black Death contributed to social, economic, and political change during

the Late Middle Ages.

SOCIAL CHANGES• Because so many people died, many

towns and villages were left empty, markets closed, and workers scarce.

• People blamed certain groups of people for the Black Death:

1. flagellants who spread the idea of God’s punishment and

2. Jews

Example: a mob in Strausbourg (France) blamed (and killed) the entire Jewish community

1. Discuss how the Black Death contributed to social, economic, and political change during

the Late Middle Ages.

ECONOMIC CHANGES• The labour shortages enabled all

surviving workers to ask for higher pay, and this in turn led to rising food prices as well.

• While millions died, they left behind all their wealth, which meant that the survivors were, in many cases, suddenly richer than they had been before the Black Death.

1. Discuss how the Black Death contributed to social, economic, and political change during

the Late Middle Ages.

POLITICAL (and economic) CHANGES• this led to a further weakening of the feudal

system• serfs discovered they could leave their manors

and charge more for their labour elsewhere.

3. John Ball’s Speech

1. What advantage do the wealthy have?• They have fine clothes; they have wines,

spices, and fine bread; they also have handsome manors.

3. John Ball’s Speech

• (text) The poll tax took the same amount of money from every person in England (from serfs to nobles). (The serfs did not consider this fair.)

John Ball’s Speech

2. What reason does Ball give for equality?• He states that all people are descended from

Adam and Eve, meaning that they are all human.

John Ball’s Speech

3.According to John Ball, what are peasants called and how are they treated?

• Peasants are called "slaves" and are mistreated

• They are sometimes beaten by lords.

3. Do you think the English peasants had good reason to revolt in the Late Middle Ages? Why

or why not?* The inequities between

rich and poor were great.• Peasants were mistreated• They are sometimes

beaten by lords.• The nobles had luxuries,

such as: fine clothes, wine, spices, and fine bread;

• They also had “handsome manors.”

3. Do you think the English peasants had good reason to revolt in the Late Middle Ages? Why or why not?

• POLL TAX: Everyone had to pay the same amount tax

• The serfs did not consider this fair. (They thought the nobles should pay higher taxes.)