What were the consequences of the Black Death? Overall estimates for the numbers of people killed in Europe by the Black Death vary from about 30% to 60% of the population of Europe. The Black Death had a huge effect on the economy of Europe. It took almost 150
years before the population of Europe was back to the levels before the Black Death. Some villages were wiped out. As the plague killed so many labourers, those who survived demanded higher wages and tenants got lower rents. In some places, where Jews were blamed for causing the plague, there was a rise in anti-Semitism (hatred of the Jews). The plague returned at various times over the next few centuries.
Spread of bubonic plague in:
1347 1348 1349 1350 1351 1352
ATLANTIC OCEAN
North Sea London Paris
Bordeaux Marseille
Lisbon
Naples Messina
E U R O P E Genoa Constantinople A S I A Caffa (Feodosiya) Black Sea Volga River
1. Describe how the Black Death spread around Europe.
2. Why, do you think, the Black Death spread so quickly around the countries off the Mediterranean Sea?
3. Why did some parts of Europe escape the worst effects of the Black Death?
4. According to the map, how did the Black Death reach Ireland?
