The Plague in Society: The Black Death’s Religious, Political, and Economic Effects on the Peasant and Wealthy Class

The Black Death, a deadly bubonic plague during 14th century England, significantly impacted both the peasant class and wealthy class. This paper examines how the plague, especially within the context of the Church’s faltering authority, reshaped social dynamics. Both the peasant and wealthy class lost faith within the Church as the plague continued raging. Particularly for the peasant class, their resistance manifested as rebellions, which were only met with restrictive laws imposed by the king. However, although the wealthy benefited from these laws in the short-term as they quelled peasant revolts, the long-term effects of the revolts and plague created greater benefits for the peasant class. The peasant class ultimately benefited through increased social mobility and employment, revealing how the Black Death played an important role in transforming class structures.