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Feudalism and the Black Death (1348)

Study note

The Normans organised society through a system called feudalism. Under it, the king granted land to his lords, and in return those lords promised to help him in war. The lords in turn relied on ordinary people to work the land. Most of these peasants were serfs, who farmed their lord's land and were not free to move away.

This settled order was shaken in 1348 by the arrival of the Black Death, probably a form of plague. The disease was devastating, killing about a third of the population of England, with similar terrible losses in Scotland and Wales.

The sheer scale of death changed society. With so few workers left, labour was suddenly scarce, and surviving peasants found they could demand higher wages for their work. New social groups grew in importance too, including the gentry and a stronger middle class. For the test, remember the chain of feudalism from king to lords to serfs, the date 1348, and that the Black Death killed about a third of the people.

Memory tip: Feudalism: king to lords to serfs; Black Death 1348 killed about a third of the people.

Practise this topic

Question 1 of 4

In which year did the Black Death come to Britain?

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Show all questions and answers for Feudalism and the Black Death (1348)(4 questions with explanations)

Feudalism and the Black Death (1348): questions, answers and explanations

  1. 1. In which year did the Black Death come to Britain?

    • 1066
    • 1348
    • 1485
    • 1215

    Correct answer: 1348

    The Black Death reached Britain in 1348.

  2. 2. About what proportion of England's population died in the Black Death?

    • About one third
    • About one tenth
    • Almost everyone
    • About one half

    Correct answer: About one third

    The Black Death killed about a third of the population of England.

  3. 3. Under feudalism, peasants who worked the land and could not move away were called what?

    • Lords
    • Serfs
    • Knights
    • Bishops

    Correct answer: Serfs

    Most peasants under feudalism were serfs who worked their lord's land.

  4. 4. After the Black Death, labour shortages led peasants to demand higher what?

    • rents
    • armies
    • wages
    • taxes

    Correct answer: wages

    Fewer workers after the Black Death let peasants demand higher wages.

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