Which of the following best reflects the effect of the Black Death on the socioeconomic structures of feudal Europe? a) The Blac
k Death fell more heavily on rural laborers than on urban craftspeople, encouraging people to abandon large tracts of farmland. b) Farm laborers acquired more power to negotiate labor terms, forcing rural lords to adjust labor practices to avoid shortages of labor and food. c) Farming became a more economically important activity due to increasing demand for food, resulting in harsh labor restrictions by rural lords. d) European monarchs became more involved in the day-to-day administration of the lands in their kingdoms to encourage healthy labor practices.
Option: b) Farm laborers acquired more power to negotiate labor terms, forcing rural lords to adjust labor practices to avoid shortages of labor and food.
Explanation:
The Black Death (the plague), was an epidemic that spread throughout Europe and Asia in the mid- the 1300s. The plague lasted for three years, and it killed one-third of all the people in Europe.
The requirement for farmers to work the land was high that it warned the manor lords. Serfs no longer tied to one master, they tend to leave and work for another lord. The manor lords had to make adjustments to make the condition more helpful for the peasants and keep them on their land. Wages were growing higher and the standard of living raised. The peasants became empowered and rebelled when the aristocracy tried to hold the changes carried about by the plague.
