Middle Ages Regents Practice

What factor contributed to the decreased power of feudal lords following the Black Death?

1. The rise of towns

2. The decline of trade

3. The expansion of territories

4. The return of the Crusaders

The correct answer is: The rise of towns

The rise of towns played a significant role in the decreased power of feudal lords after the Black Death. This period saw a shift in population dynamics and economic structures. With the significant loss of life during the plague, labor became scarce, leading to higher wages and better working conditions for peasants. As a result, many individuals began to move to towns seeking better opportunities, contributing to the growth of urban centers. These towns often gained charters that granted them certain rights and privileges, allowing them to operate independently from feudal lords. As towns developed, they became hubs of trade and commerce, creating a new economic structure that diminished the reliance on the feudal system. The emerging merchant class gained influence and wealth, further reducing the political and economic hold that feudal lords had over their lands and vassals. This transformation marked a significant decline in the power of traditional feudal structures, leading to changes in social and political dynamics in the post-Black Death period.