The Black Death

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the historical period encompassing the Black Death. The paper provides a historical background and presents documentation describing the events of the Black Death and those surrounding it. The paper then goes on to make suggestions for a film depicting the Black Death, focusing on location, cast, plot and costumes.

Table of Contents:
Historical Background and Documentation
Location and Settings
Cast
Plot
Costumes
Potential Market

From the Paper:

"The effects were terrible, considering the demographic, economic and political aspect. Demographically speaking, The Black Death dramatically reduced the population level in Europe (Stearns, ch 20). From the perspective of the economy, there was a loss in labor force and thus the society structure began to change, giving skilled workers a more important role. Peasants rebelled against any oppressor, culminating with The Jacquerie in 1358, the Peasants' Revolt in England in 1381, the Catalonian Rebellion in 1395. On another level, cities were hit by the stop of construction projects, devastation and chaos. (The Black Death: Economic). Politically speaking, the plague also affected the royal houses, such as the queens of Aragon and France, the son of the Byzantine emperor, and King Alfonso XI of Castile who was the only reigning monarch to die of the plague (The Black Death: Economic). At a local level, there was a massive disruption in the organization system, including legal and political disarray."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Berstein, Serge, and Milza. Pierre. Histoire de l'Europe. Paris: Hatier, 1994.
• "Clothing." The Middle Ages. The Annenberg Foundation. 2006. 25 May 2006. <http://www.learner.org/exhibits/middleages/clothing.html>
• "Jesters". Decameron Web. Massimo Riva. Brown University. 2000. 25 May 2006. <http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Italian_Studies/dweb/society/pop_culture/jesters.shtml>
• Stearns, Peter, et al. World Civilizations: The Global Experience, Volume II, Boston: Addison Wesley, 2000, 806.
• Stefani, Marchione di Coppo. "The Florentine Chronicle." 25 May 2006. <http://www3.iath.virginia.edu/osheim/marchione.html>

More papers on The Black Death:

• Book Review # 34559 : "The Black Death and the Transformation of the West"
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