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The Black Death

Historical Timing of the Plague

The plague itself was disastrous enough, especially in the appearance of more than one form during the same epidemic. But coming when it did was as catastrophic as its form. The middle 14th century was not a good time for Europe.

The European economy was already in difficulties. It was approaching the limits of expansion, both on its frontiers and in reclaiming land from forest and swamp. The arrival of the Mongols and the Ottomans had disrupted trade routes, and certain areas of Europe were edging into depression.

Worse, the overall climate was changing, with cooler and wetter weather creating lower crop yields even as the population was increasing. By the early 1300s we begin to hear of great famines.

The Church was in poor shape as well. The popes resided at Avignon, not at Rome, to the scandal of many. Heresy could be found in England and Bohemia and southern France, and the Church seemed unable to control it. The Holy Land had been lost in the 1290s and efforts to recover it had been dismal failures.

The Hundred Years' War added war to plague and famine. Just two years before, at Crecy, the English had inflicted a great defeat on France. Soon would appear the routiers, mercenary armies that served one king or the other or, when neither king could pay, would roam the countryside in search of plunder.

The difficulties created by war and a constricted economy were exacerbated by the Black Death. There is a relationship here, of course. The effects of the plague were made worse because of these other problems. And the problems themselves were redoubled because of the plague.