New evidence shows the Black Death had to have been airborne — and not caused by rat fleas

[CTyankee]

4. As an amateur art historian I have read some books asserting that one of the major

Last edited Wed May 14, 2014, 07:32 PM - Edit history (1)

consequences of the Black Death was the Renaissance. As fewer people shared in the same amount of wealth as there had been in the past, there was more individual wealth. The very trade routes that probably brought the Black Death to western Europe were also a big factor in the rise of the merchant class. They could spend more money on the finer things and chose to spend it on art, which was ostentatious but gave rise to more artists working and producing. Florence alone is an outstanding example. Art flowered there because so many artists flocked there to find work. You literally can not turn around in Florence without seeing another masterpiece...it is astounding...

Amazing, isn't it?