Beguine, Christine. “Post-Plague Social, Economic, and Historical Characteristics of Chaucer’s Pilgrims.” Arizona.edu. University of Arizona. n.d. Web. 23 Oct 2011.
The author details the ways Chaucer uses society and changes caused by the Black Death to bring his characters to life in Canterbury Tales. The franklin, for example, most likely owned so much land because he was able to appropriate land that had belonged to people who died. The pardoner found his calling after so many clergy members died; at that point, the Church began allowing laypersons to hear confessions, which opened the door to corrupt individuals who would “sell” forgiveness. The article gives an interesting insight into the hidden ways Chaucer commented not only on the state of society, but on the turbulence and upheaval that led to the many changes following the epidemics.
Benedictow, Ole J. "The Black Death." History Today 55.3 (2005): 42-49. Academic Search Elite. EBSCO. Web. 23 Oct. 2011.This article is a lengthy (seven page) but thorough discussion of the effects of the 1346-53 Black Death epidemic throughout Europe, with emphasis on how the disease was able to spread rapidly from the steppes of Russia throughout the known world thanks to the medieval version of modern transportation – ships that transported infected fleas on rats as well as cargo. He offers a good description of the disease's causes and symptoms without being too graphic. There is also a section describing how the disease arrived in England and the devastation it caused there. Overall, this is a good resource for anyone needing a general overview of the Black Death and its effects on society during the 14th century.
“British History – the Middle Ages.” BBC History. BBC.co.uk/history/British/MiddleAges. n.d. Web. 23 Oct 2011
An excellent overview of society at the time, demonstrating how the plague was one of the catalysts for the overwhelming social changes that came about in the mid- and late-14th century. The two pertinent sections are entitled “The Black Death” and “Richard II: Disease, Rebellion and Conflict. The first section details the how the plague infected England, and the profound social effects it had. Details on the fates of several villages and correspondence from residents at the time bring a personal touch to the information. The second section deals with the fallout from the massive loss of human life, and the beginnings of the middle class, the acceptance of English as the national language, revolt against the Church and its teachings, and the loss of control by the upper classes.
“Internet History Sourcebook.” Fordham.edu. Fordham University Internet Sourcebooks Project. n.d. Web. 23 Oct 2011.
Medieval society relied on the lower classes to perform the day-to-day labor that kept the feudal system alive and functional. With so many serfs wiped out by the plague, the remaining nobility realized that without some sort of restrictions, the remaining serfs would be able to dictate the terms of their work, their pay, and their lives. To keep them in check, Edward III enacted the Ordinance of Laborers in 1349 in an attempt to control wages and keep the lower classes from what we’d call “job-hopping. “ When this proved almost unenforceable because restricting pay and privileges just gave the serfs another reason to leave, Edward enacted the Statute of Laborers in 1351 to provide specific legal methods and punishments for violators. These are written in modern English, and are worth reading because they are clear examples of how medieval society had drastically changed since the early 14th century.
Jones, Dan. "The Peasants' Revolt." History Today 59.6 (2009): 33-39. Academic Search Elite. EBSCO. Web. 23 Oct. 2011.The bubonic plague outbreaks that continually struck England for four consecutive decades beginning in the 1340s are often cited as a contributing factor in the increasing unrest among the lower classes during the end of the 14th century. This article fr
om History Today explains the two weeks of insurrection that started almost innocently and ended with death, destruction, and anarchy among the country’s elite. It also gives a brief description of the changes in working class attitudes and economics – and the corresponding lack of foresight by the ruling class -- that happened after a good portion of the population was killed by the plague. The article is well-written if a bit opinionated, and easy to read and understand.
Kelly, John. The Great Mortality: An Intimate History of the Black Death, the Most Devastating Plague of All Time. New York: Harper Collins, 2005. Print.
A really fascinating book that not only gives the history of the disease, but includes stories about specific individuals to bring the details to life. There are a great deal of small details included, such as Gabriel d’ Mussis’ second-hand story of Mongols hurling the corpses of dead plague victims into the besieged city of Caffa (in what is now the Ukraine) in an attempt to drive out the Italians. This incident – which some claim is the first incident of biological warfare – supposedly led to the epidemics that swept Europe. Several other stories illustrate how unsanitary and almost anarchic life was in London during the 14th century, and point out how those attributes may have led to the swarms of rats that carried the fleas and spread the plague. Finally, the author includes specifics about political and economic conditions during the time, which further illuminate how the plague affected society as a whole.
National Archives, U.K. National Archives - Exhibitions - Citizenship. National Archives. n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2011.
As a repository for all British historical documents and information, this site can be invaluable when doing research on history of the United Kingdom. The site itself is well-organized and easy to use. The highlight is definitely the ability to view original historic documents along with transcripts and explanations of how the documents affected history.
Raybin, David. "Chapter 2: Chaucer as a London Poet: A Review Essay." Essays in Medieval Studies 24.1 (2008): 21-29. Academic Search Elite. EBSCO. Web. 23 Oct. 2011.
This author’s main point is to demonstrate how London and its citizens influenced Chaucer’s use of words and structure in his works. However, at the bottom of page four in the PDF version of the article (page 24 in the magazine), he begins a discussion of how death, and specifically death from plague, influenced Chaucer’s work. Chaucer rarely if ever even refers to the plague in his works, but the idea of death as a way of clearing out the old and making room for the new comes up repeatedly. The author points out that there’s “hardly a narrative in which some major character does not die, nearly die, or think seriously about dying,” and notes that in each case one person’s death opens a path for someone else. It’s an interesting take on Chaucer’s work and gives a very different perspective to a number of his stories.
Wheelis, Mark. "Biological Warfare at the 1346 Siege of Caffa." Emerging Infectious Diseases 8.9 (2002): 971-975. EBSCO. Web. 23 Oct. 2011.
Many think biological warfare is a modern invention, developed as mankind made advances in the scientific study of diseases. This author argues that in fact the Mongols engaged in a type of biological warfare during the Siege of Caffa in 1346, when they held the city captive as a way to eject the Genoese traders there. As the Mongols gradually fell victim to bubonic plague, one chronicler claims they used the bodies of the dead as a way to spread the disease among the people in the city. It's a fascinating idea and the basis for the article seems credible.
