History The Black Death Questions
The Black Death had significant effects on political structures. It led to a decline in feudalism and the power of the nobility. With a significant decrease in the population, labor became scarce, and peasants gained more bargaining power, leading to the erosion of serfdom and the rise of wage labor. Additionally, the devastation caused by the plague weakened central authorities, such as monarchies and the Church, as they struggled to maintain control and provide effective governance. This created opportunities for social and political upheaval, including peasant revolts and challenges to traditional power structures. Overall, the Black Death reshaped political structures by undermining feudalism, empowering peasants, and weakening central authorities.