Final answer:
The Black Death occurred from 1347 to 1353 and had profound impacts on European society, causing significant demographic changes and contributing to the decline of feudalism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Black Death swept through Europe between the years 1347 and 1353. This pandemic, believed to have originated in Central Asia in the 1330s, caused massive mortality across Europe and the Middle East, and persisted in recurring outbreaks for over four centuries. As a result, the Black Death is an event that signifies a prolonged period of great turmoil and transformation in Europe, leading to significant social, demographic, and economic changes.
Historically, the Black Death reduced the population drastically and challenged existing societal structures. The aftermath saw a power shift as peasants, who had become scarce due to the plague, could demand better conditions, ultimately contributing to the decline of the feudal system. The bubonic plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, was responsible for this widespread devastation, which also played a role in shaping Europe's future path towards rejuvenation and the Renaissance.