The plague outbreaks most directly led to the decline of many major cities across Eurasia, causing severe depopulation and disruption to trade and the socioeconomic structure, paving the way for economic and social changes.
The option (A) is correct.
The outbreaks of plague described in the passage led most directly to the decline of many major cities across Eurasia. With the devastating effects of the Black Death, once thriving centers of trade and population, such as those in the Mongol Empire and Europe, witnessed profound transformations.
Cities faced severe depopulation, social upheaval, and the disruption of established trade networks, which in turn influenced the socioeconomic fabric of these regions. An example of this is seen in the Il-Khanate, where cities like Tabriz, which were thriving centers of commerce, became largely abandoned. The plague's impact directly affected labor forces, contributed to labor shortages, and ultimately led to challenges in maintaining the feudal system, triggering shifts towards more capitalist economic practices.
This question is not complete, Here I am attaching the complete question:
The outbreaks of plague described in the passage led most directly to which of the following?
a) The decline of many major cities across Eurasia
b) The conquest of Eurasia by Central Asian nomadic peoples
c) The Spanish and Portuguese voyages of exploration to find new trade routes to Asia
d) The increased development of mechanical labor-saving devices for industrial production