Final answer:
The Black Death brought about a significant increase in anti-semitism. Jewish communities suffered violent persecution and were often blamed for the spread of the plague, evidenced by both documentary and archaeological data. The correct answer to the student's question is therefore d. there was an increase in anti-semitism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The horrific spread of the Black Death during the 14th century brought about a significant rise in anti-Jewish sentiments. The Jewish community faced violent persecution as they were often scapegoated for the spread of the plague.
This is best illustrated by the extensive documentary and archaeological evidence in regions like Catalonia, where Jewish individuals were not only targeted physically but also financially, with looting and destruction of debts records housed in Jewish archives. The Christian Church's inability to prevent the spread of the Black Death instigated new forms of spirituality, but this did not diminish the ongoing hostilities towards Jews which intensified after the plague.
Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question of what resulted from the Black Death is d. there was an increase in anti-semitism. This was due to a combination of pre-existing economic tensions, exacerbated by the social and financial strain brought about by high mortality rates, scapegoating, and the numerous assaults on the Jewish community that were recorded in the period following the pandemic.
Option a is incorrect because the Black Death caused a considerable decrease in the general population across Europe, including in Italian cities. Option b is incorrect because flagellation, a form of religious self-punishment, increased as the plague ravaged Europe. Option c is also incorrect because, as stated previously, there was a notable increase in anti-semitism, rather than a decrease following the outbreak of the Black Death.