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An epidemic of the '''bubonic plague''' commonly called '''The Plague''' or (since the late 16th century) the '''Black Death''' killed millions in Europe and many parts of Asia between 1347 and 1352.  The plague was spread and transmitted by rats and other rodents, who [[Carrier|carried]] infected fleas in their fur, but this cause was not known at the time.

An [[epidemic]] of the '''bubonic plague''' commonly called '''The Plague''' or (since the late 16th century) the '''Black Death''' killed millions in Europe and many parts of Asia between 1347 and 1352.  The plague was spread and transmitted by rats and other rodents, who [[Carrier|carried]] infected fleas in their fur, but this cause was not known at the time.

About 20 million of the 60 million people in Europe at the time died. In all of recorded history, this epidemic has only two rivals: the plague of 542 and the [[flu]] epidemic of 1918. The long term effects affected the economy by causing a long-term labor shortage.  [[File:Plague.jpg|thumb|290px]]

About 20 million of the 60 million people in Europe at the time died. In all of recorded history, this epidemic has only two rivals: the plague of 542 and the [[flu]] epidemic of 1918. The long term effects affected the economy by causing a long-term labor shortage.  [[File:Plague.jpg|thumb|290px]]

The era of the Black Death witnessed a series of important long-term changes in demographic behavior, agriculture, manufacturing, trade, and technology. Real wage series reflect the productivity increases from these changes and suggest that the Low Countries and England were able to resist to a greater extent the general tendency for wages to decline during the second leg of the demographic cycle that began with the Black Death. A wage gap thus began to emerge between the northwest and the rest of the continent after 1450.<ref>Sevket Pamuk, "The Black Death and the Origins of the 'Great Divergence' Across Europe, 1300-1600," ''European Review of Economic History'' 2007 11(3): 289-317, </ref>  

The era of the Black Death witnessed a series of important long-term changes in demographic behavior, agriculture, manufacturing, trade, and technology. Real wage series reflect the productivity increases from these changes and suggest that the Low Countries and England were able to resist to a greater extent the general tendency for wages to decline during the second leg of the demographic cycle that began with the Black Death. A wage gap thus began to emerge between the northwest and the rest of the continent after 1450.<ref>Sevket Pamuk, "The Black Death and the Origins of the 'Great Divergence' Across Europe, 1300-1600," ''European Review of Economic History'' 2007 11(3): 289-317, </ref>  

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 labor 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 [[big government|centralized government]] that could respond effectively to disease.

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>  

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.