The Black Death originated with Mongols and had what major impact on Europe?

The Black Death originated with Mongols and had what major impact on Europe?

• A. Mass population decrease and contributed to the fall of feudal structures
• B. Economic expansion and urban growth
• C. Cultural renaissance and scientific advancements
• D. Strengthened feudal social order

Answer: (B)

The main idea being tested is how the Black Death reshaped European society and its economy, especially in cities. When a large portion of the rural population died, there was a severe shortage of labor. That scarcity gave surviving workers more bargaining power; wages rose and people looked toward towns and trades where money was being made. As commerce revived and new markets formed, urban centers grew and the economy shifted toward a more market-based, city-centered pattern. This combination of labor reallocation, higher pay for workers, and expanding urban trade is why economic expansion and urban growth is the best way to describe the major impact. The plague’s toll on population and the eventual weakening of feudal ties are part of the broader story, but the most defining long-term change reflected here is the move toward urban, commercial life.

The main idea being tested is how the Black Death reshaped European society and its economy, especially in cities. When a large portion of the rural population died, there was a severe shortage of labor. That scarcity gave surviving workers more bargaining power; wages rose and people looked toward towns and trades where money was being made. As commerce revived and new markets formed, urban centers grew and the economy shifted toward a more market-based, city-centered pattern. This combination of labor reallocation, higher pay for workers, and expanding urban trade is why economic expansion and urban growth is the best way to describe the major impact. The plague’s toll on population and the eventual weakening of feudal ties are part of the broader story, but the most defining long-term change reflected here is the move toward urban, commercial life.