The Black Death that occurred in Europe between 1347 and 1352 was a catastrophic population shrinkage that caused huge changes in the European demographic structure due to death; the plague killed nearly half of Europe’s population at the time and was also a major force in helping to create the cultural “Renaissance.”The plague destroyed the feudal system, and by destroying this system, the surviving workers (the labor force) received higher wages and created a new wealthy class (the middle class) with discretionary surplus capital for art and other cultural activities. The plague also led to a shift in humanist thought, as established church institutions did not prevent the plague from occurring. As a result, when people began to think about life and death differently, this new way of thinking shifted from a focus on death to a focus on human experience, laying the foundation for the economic prosperity and cultural progress of the Renaissance. Ultimately, the Renaissance changed the way humans experienced the despair of death and ushered in an age of creativity and achievement (the Golden Age).
What is the Black Death and how it laid the foundation for the European Renaissance
According to the World Historical Encyclopedia, the Black Death, primarily caused by Yersinia pestis, originated in Central Asia and spread to Europe through trade routes in 1347. The Black Death pandemic killed an estimated 75 to 200 million people worldwide. European estimates suggest a “huge mortality rate” killed about half the population. Following the first impact of a period of great sadness and social unrest, a second long-term impact, a shrinking population, was essentially a brutal “reset button” that transformed several aspects of Europe, including labor, religion, and philosophy.The plague fundamentally destroyed the manorial system and the working population of Europe was greatly reduced. The supply of labor plummeted, causing its market value to soar. Research from Brown University shows that this labor shortage gave serfs the opportunity to negotiate wages and more social freedoms than before. This new socioeconomic mobility created a new class of wealthy merchants—such as the Medici family—who had the excess capital needed to commission many of the greatest works of art of the period.
How the ‘Great Death’ Broke the Church’s Monopoly
In 14th century Europe, European people suffered great psychological trauma as society’s focus shifted from “Memento Mori” (remember you will die) to a greater emphasis on living well before death. Medieval medicine and prayer failed to prevent the “Great Death” and people began to question religious authority across Europe, according to an article published in UEN Digital Press with Pressbooks. The erosion of ecclesiastical hegemony (the church’s complete control over ideas) left a void that was subsequently occupied by the humanist movement, known for promoting reason, logic, ancient Greek and Roman wisdom, and becoming the philosophical driving force behind the artistic and scientific creations of the Renaissance.
Why surplus wealth drives urban building booms
As the plague killed many people, there was also a large loss of inheritors. This results in a massive concentration of wealth and property in the hands of a few. The World Historical Encyclopedia shows that vast amounts of wealth existed during this period, and that this wealth was not just preserved. Instead, it was used to finance public buildings and private works of art. This concentration of wealth created a massive amount of capital that led directly to Florence’s Golden Age. The wealthy used art to improve their cities and demonstrate their social status.
