Praxis 5941 Practice Test Practice Question

In which of the following ways did the Black Death in the fourteenth century C.E affect western European society?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The decline in population due to the Black Death significantly reduced the labor force, leading to a scarcity of skilled and manual labor. This scarcity resulted in higher wages for workers and a decline in serfdom as peasants sought better opportunities, which transformed the social structure of Western Europe.

Option A is incorrect; while trade was impacted, it did not halt completely, and knowledge of disease transmission did not develop until later. Option B misrepresents the era's dynamics; fear often led to social upheaval rather than a strengthening of the aristocracy. Option D inaccurately suggests that compassion led to lasting changes in governance; in reality, many monarchs maintained strict controls despite the crisis.

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