accounted population in 1352 was 50 million. This decrease in population occurred just under five years. The class that was greatly affected by the plague was the serfs. The plague left nobles without personal to work the land. Serfs that lived through the Black Death were able impose their lords to pay them. The demand of serfs went up as a result of the supply of serfs decreasing causing the willingness of the lords to pay for the work done by the serfs. Serfs for the first time had the luxury of choice. Some serfs decided to move into the cities finding occupations. Cities preceding the plague were left under populated with the desperate need of skilled craftsman. Those serfs who decided to leave the fields entered these needed positions in the cities. In response of the need of serfs to attend the nobles land, the nobles refused to continue the long common practice of serfdom. Prior to the plague serfs could gradually buy their freedom, but the Black Death left killing serfdom and the whole feudal system.The Black Death was a catalyst promoting the economy. Since there was a shortage of labor the guilds were opened. Guilds or gilds were associations of men and women sharing common interests usually relating to business. The association was bound together by the intent of protecting the members self-interest. The guilds protected its members from competition and other outside factors that may hurt them in any way. For a short period of time just after the plague the guilds did not utilize the power and authority they possessed to keep people from entering the market, due to the population loss. The guilds were opened to fill the empty spots. Some, for the first time, had a choice of their occupation. The drastic loss of population accounts for the hardest hit aspect of Europe after the plague. The hardest hit aspect of Europe preceding the plague was the economy. The economy, just preceding the plague became s...
