WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -There was increased social mobility, as depopulation further eroded the peasants’ already-weakened obligations to remain on their traditional holdings. Seigneurialism never recovered. Land was plentiful, wages high, and serfdom had all but disappeared. It was possible to move about and rise higher in life.

Detailed explanation-2: -Almost immediately after the Black Death had swept through the country, serfs started looking for estates whose lords were willing to pay more for their labor. Many headed into the cities in search of opportunities among the tradesmen and merchants there.

Detailed explanation-3: -The plague had an important effect on the relationship between the lords who owned much of the land in Europe and the peasants who worked for the lords. As people died, it became harder and harder to find people to plow fields, harvest crops, and produce other goods and services. Peasants began to demand higher wages.

Detailed explanation-4: -The consequences of this violent catastrophe were many. A cessation of wars and a sudden slump in trade immediately followed but were only of short duration. A more lasting and serious consequence was the drastic reduction of the amount of land under cultivation, due to the deaths of so many labourers.

Detailed explanation-5: -There was no upward mobility in the feudal system and a serf was tied to the land he and his family worked from generation to generation. As the plague wore on, however, depopulation greatly reduced the workforce and the serf’s labor suddenly became an important – and increasingly rare – asset.