Changes

The devastation of the serfs, who made up the vast majority of the population, also strengthened their socio-economic position. The scarcity of labour meant that, through proto-strikes, they could bargain with land-owners to improve their conditions of life. This led to the beginning of the end of [[feudalism]] in [[Europe]], as it weakened the force behind the success of the manors. The plague also created a demand for more centralized government that could respond effectively to disease.

The devastation of the serfs, who made up the vast majority of the population, also strengthened their socio-economic position. The scarcity of labour meant that, through proto-strikes, they could bargain with land-owners to improve their conditions of life. This led to the beginning of the end of [[feudalism]] in [[Europe]], as it weakened the force behind the success of the manors. The plague also created a demand for more centralized government that could respond effectively to disease.

The Black Death spurred monarchies and city-states across much of Western Europe to formulate new wage and price legislation. These legislative acts splintered in a multitude of directions that to date defy any obvious patterns of economic or political rationality. A comparison of labor laws in England, France, Provence, Aragon, Castile, the Low Countries, and the city-states of Italy shows that these laws did not flow logically from new post-plague demographics and economics - the realities of the supply and demand for labor. Instead, the new municipal and royal efforts to control labor and artisans' prices emerged from fears of the greed and supposed new powers of subaltern classes and are better understood in the contexts of anxiety that sprung forth from the Black Death's new horrors of mass mortality and destruction.<ref> Samuel Cohn, "After the Black Death: Labour Legislation and Attitudes Towards Labour in Late-Medieval Western Europe," ''Economic History Review'' 2007 60(3): 457-485, </ref>  

The Black Death spurred monarchies and city-states across much of medieval Europe to formulate new wage and price legislation. These legislative acts splintered in a multitude of directions that to date defy any obvious patterns of economic or political rationality. A comparison of labor laws in England, France, Provence, Aragon, Castile, the Low Countries, and the city-states of Italy shows that these laws did not flow logically from new post-plague demographics and economics - the realities of the supply and demand for labor. Instead, the new municipal and royal efforts to control labor and artisans' prices emerged from fears of the greed and supposed new powers of subaltern classes and are better understood in the contexts of anxiety that sprung forth from the Black Death's new horrors of mass mortality and destruction.<ref> Samuel Cohn, "After the Black Death: Labour Legislation and Attitudes Towards Labour in Late-Medieval Western Europe," ''Economic History Review'' 2007 60(3): 457-485, </ref>  

==Popular response==

==Popular response==

Anxiety levels were very high--death was at hand for everyone. One result was social behavior such as the flagellant movement and the persecution of Jews, Catalans, and beggars.  In some regions such as Alsace the Jews were blamed and were driven from the main cities.  

Anxiety levels were very high--death was at hand for everyone. One result was social behavior such as the flagellant movement and the persecution of Jews, Catalans, and beggars.  In some regions such as Alsace the Jews were blamed and were driven from the main cities.  

==Today==

==Today==

The bubonic plague is still [[Endemic (epidemiology)|endemic]] to some parts of the world, such as Tanzania.<ref>

The bubonic plague is still [[Endemic (epidemiology)|endemic]] to some parts of the world, such as Tanzania.<ref>

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070517/hl_afp/tanzaniahealthplague_070517161454</ref>  In May 2007, there was an outbreak of the bubonic plague among animals in Denver, Colorado.<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/05/21/bubonic.plague.reut/index.html?section=cnn_latest</ref>  However, due to modern sanitation in Western countries, it is unlikely to ever reach epidemic proportions again.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070517/hl_afp/tanzaniahealthplague_070517161454</ref>  In May 2007, there was an outbreak of the bubonic plague among animals in Denver, Colorado.<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/05/21/bubonic.plague.reut/index.html?section=cnn_latest</ref>  However, due to modern sanitation in European countries, it is unlikely to ever reach epidemic proportions again.

<ref>http://wcbstv.com/national/topstories_story_142072816.html</ref>

<ref>http://wcbstv.com/national/topstories_story_142072816.html</ref>

==Further reading==

==Further reading==