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An early warning of globalization?
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The Black Death, the era-defining event of the Middle Ages was more than simply Europe losing half of its population. The effects on social life, feudalism and the shift of people’s source of beliefs were also significant impacts. Much like today, it cast doubt on the “progress” being made through globalized economic systems.
In the mid 14th century, between 1347 and 1351, the largest outbreak of the bubonic plague took place in Asia and all across Europe. The mortality rate was 50 percent. Victims had swollen lymph nodes, pus bags containing black liquid called buboes and eventually died from lungs filled with their own fluids. The short-term effects were horrific; half the population in Europe was gone, and people stopped socializing for fear of contamination by infected patients. With all the people isolating themselves at home, markets were abandoned and trade declined. International trading was suspended, and relationships between countries became distant.
On manors, lords no longer had a lot of serfs and knights left. Lords that still possessed a large army could easily take over other estates. The price for the worker’s services increased dramatically, making it no longer affordable. A shortage in staff also meant that lots of work could not be completed. Food production and the safety of the manor were no longer guaranteed. As time went by, support for a feudal system dropped. Toward the end of the Middle Ages, there weren’t many manors left.
The power of religious beliefs also declined as a result of the enormous number of deaths. During the Middle Ages, a large portion of Europe’s population were Catholic. At times of crisis, the people turned to the church for help. As random people were dying, including members within the church hierarchy, many started to question the importance of the church. Prayers were never answered. Situations never became better. These reasons escalated the instability of trust in the church.
It also highlighted how a globally connected world also welcomes foreign problems in domestically. Before the Middle Ages, international trade routes were not commonly used. But that changed due to people such as Marco Polo who kept on convincing people to travel and explore the rest of the world. While sharing new technology and goods, diseases also spread more rapidly. Ideas such are these are not just in history textbooks as the current pandemic is making people rethink the benefits of living in such an interconnected world. The never-ending link between the past and the present are a constant reminder that, as George Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
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