The Black Death pandemic of the 14th century led to significant social, economic, and political changes in late medieval Europe. As millions died, leaving their wealth and possessions behind, surviving workers were able to demand higher wages. This weakened the feudal system as serfs gained the ability to leave manors in search of better pay. Social unrest increased as some groups were blamed for spreading the plague, and empty villages disrupted traditional structures.

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

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.)

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.”

11. 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.)