Directions: Read each section and answer the
question
Section 1: Population impact.
Question: How did the plague affect the
population of Europe?
The virus and the plague caused a decline in
society in terms of the number of deaths and the
economic loss in this world. For example, the
Black Plague destroyed one quarter of the
European population and is called one of the
most significant diseases in history. Between
1348 and 1351, more than one million men,
women, and children died in England. This was
over one third of England's population dead due
to this deadly virus
Section 2: Economic
Question: How did the plague change the power
structure of European society?
As large numbers of peasants died from the Black
Death rents were no longer paid, there was a
shortage of labour and serfs were no longer
available to work for the lords. As a result of the
labour shortages caused by the Black Death the
lords begin to lose much of their power and
status. At the same time, because of the deaths
of so many people, wages rose dramatically,
giving labours some chance of improving there
own condition of employment.
Section 3: Religious
Question: How did the Plague change the role of
the Catholic Church in Europe?
During the middle ages, the Catholic Church had
been the most powerful institution in Europe. The
Church controlled all aspects of European life.
People believed that the church was a truly
powerful organization with mystical powers
Naturally, when the plague began to t decimate
the European population people turned to the
Church for help. Despite its power and wealth the
Church was unable to do anything to prevent the
spread of the plague. Disappointed by the
Church’s failure to cure the plague, Europeans
began to lose faith in the Church, weakening the
power of the Roman Catholic Church in Europe.
Section 4: Cultural
Question: How did the plague affect art and
music?
Art, literature and music created during the
plague had a theme of darkness and doom. Much
of the art created during the time period invokes
the image of the grim reapers or other symbols
representing death. The famous children’s
nursery rhyme “ring around the Rosie” was
created during the plague. Ring around the Rosie
is a symbol for the black bumps that appeared on
the bodies of plague victims. The ashes referred
to the ashes created by burning bodies.