Question

1. "The Black Death serves as a major turning point in the history of European civilization." Discuss this statement in the context of late-medieval economics, social relations, popular religion, and art. (in own words)

Answer 1

It seriously damanged Europe’s population and also its economy. Changing in the size of civilization led to changing of trade, the church, in music and art, and in many other things.

The Black Death killed massive portion of Europe’s population. Plagues spread farther where they affected weakened people, and Europe was at that time was already weakened by persistent Scottish invasions, exhaustion of the soil due to poor farming, and the introduction of more sheep, which reduced the land available for corn.

Flea infected with Bubonic Plague would jump from rats to travelers, killing millions and infesting the continent with earth-shaking fear. normal people were tormented by this death threat, which caused them to change their views on leisure, work, and art. Even children suffered.

The pandemic’s damage to art was almost irreparable. With the plague decimating monasteries and churches, written language was almost lost and entire churches were abandoned. The carving styles changed. The Coffin lid of people depicted pictures of corpses, which shows flattering likeness of the deceased inside wearing his or her best clothes.

Children were affected both physically and mentally. They were exposed to public nudity, belligerent adult behavior, and (obviously) abundant death before their time. Losing family members meeans facing death and pain at a very early age. Parents had to abandoned their children, which left them to the streets rather than catching the dreaded “pestilence” from infants.  

Europe is just now recovering from the devastation. The population was also a source of economic disruption because few citizens mean few taxes. However, Europe’s economy did recover.

The Black Death had an effect on today’s economy, it would be that prices aren’t as high as they would otherwise be due to an entire century where the economy making no progress. With paintings as a lasting and locatable record, art becomes a good reminder of how the most creative people can panic when panic surrounds them. In a way, the plague benefited art: it inspired artists to branch out from the standard religious pictorials.

Soon after the last eruption of the Black Death, views on children and parenting changed. Although carrying on the family name was still considered important , the birth rate dropped. Children were considered “not worth the trouble” to raise.