Middle Ages Regents Practice

Which social class in medieval Europe was most affected by labor shortages due to the Black Death?

1. Nobility

2. Peasants

3. Clergy

4. Merchants

The correct answer is: Peasants

The social class most affected by labor shortages due to the Black Death was indeed the peasants. The pandemic, which ravaged Europe in the mid-14th century, led to a significant decline in population, with estimates suggesting that approximately one-third to one-half of Europe’s population perished. This drastic reduction in the number of people meant that there were fewer laborers available to work the land. Peasants were the backbone of the agricultural economy, and with so many of them succumbing to the plague, fields went unplanted, crops were not harvested, and livestock were left unattended. This labor shortage created a shift in the balance of power between landowners and peasants. With the reduced labor force, surviving peasants found themselves in a position to negotiate higher wages and better living conditions due to the demand for their labor. The nobility, clergy, and merchants were less directly impacted by these labor shortages. Nobility continued to hold land and wealth, though they may have faced economic shifts, while the clergy were largely supported by their religious roles, and merchants had the opportunity to adapt and thrive in certain aspects of trade despite the overall economic turmoil caused by the pandemic. In contrast, peasants not only suffered immediate loss but also leveraged