1. The Black Death
The Black Death resulted in greater economic opportunities for the lower classes, increased ethnic tensions, and provided monarchs an opportunity to centralize their governments.

2. Ethnic tensions increased in the face of the Black Death.
The great loss in population improved the economic opportunities for the lower classes
The Black Death brought on a European-wide inflation, but labor shortages meant that workers could demand better wages, and those who survived enjoyed a higher standard of living.
The greater demand for labor also meant greater mobility for peasants and artisans.
Ethnic tensions increased in the face of the Black Death.
During epidemic, it was common for Jews to be blamed; many were murdered.
Many people believed that Jews had poisoned the wells of Christian communities
Others thought that killing Jews would prevent the plague from spreading to their town
These beliefs led to the murder of thousands of Jews 3specially in France and Germany
In Strasbourg, several hundred were burned alive, houses looted, property confiscated, and the remaining Jews were expelled from the city.
Concepts of ethnicity began to shape legislation throughout Europe.

3. Monarchs begin to seized direct control over more territory
the Black Death killed many of nobles and their lands returned to the royal families
Kings now could administer larger territories with the rise of professional paid armies thanks to the cannon and longbow