The Black Death greatly improved the economic situation of medieval Europe, giving rise to new opportunities that brought profound changes to its structure and society. The large number of deaths severely reduced the number of work services available. As a result, workers were more easily able to feed themselves and their families, had more freedom, and an overall higher standard of living as they began to demand higher wages, better working conditions, and fewer responsibilities from their overlords. Ultimately, this ended the feudal system and contributed to the rise of capitalism in Europe. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay In his book, Encyclopedia of the Black Death, Joseph Byrne emphasizes the redistribution of concentrated wealth through inheritance among survivors. Accompanied by higher wages, European citizens purchased better food, more fashionable clothing, jewelry, and other luxury items. This led to a decline in the upper class and triggered a strong relative growth of the middle peasant classes, creating what is now known as the middle class. As European cities grew, there was a greater demand for professionals and skilled workers. This incentivized cities to make special offers that included immediate citizenship and tax exemptions for rural populations to facilitate their relocation. This created many job opportunities for European citizens, especially those pursuing those in-demand careers. The contribution of the many farmers who moved to the cities in the years following the Black Death may have contributed to the rise of capitalism. The technological development triggered by the disease has brought benefits to Europe's society and economy as it has been able to provide practical applications to meet people's demands and needs. As the demand for books grew, Johann Gutenberg's invention of the printing press allowed books to be more accessible to the general public, allowing the common person to receive information and news about the world around them. There were also improvements in military technology as wages and the need for soldiers increased. Newly introduced weapons have made Europe stronger, providing security and benefiting its population militarily and financially. In his book The Black Death, Robert Gottfried explains that it was the increased demand for gun metal and ingots that caused a general expansion of the mining industry. This facilitated the growth of the industrial age by providing the necessary resources for technological innovations that benefited the populations of medieval Europe economically, financially, and medically. The plague disease led to revolutionizing medical advances, ideas and practices that enabled the people of Europe to control and prevent resulting diseases with a more scientific approach. There was a greater emphasis on practical physical sciences and clinically oriented medicine, reflected in the growing influence of surgeons, as prayer and traditional medicine failed to provide a cure for disease. This provided people with a good starting point to begin treating various diseases. In the book Power, Violence and Mass Death in Pre-Modern and Modern Times, Samuel K. Cohn Jr. explains that the Black Death offered doctors an entirely new range of practical experiences. Before the plague, human anatomy remained a mystery as dissection of human cadavers was prohibited. Please note: this is just a sample. Get a personalized document from us now,.