Final answer:
Peasants left the manors in search of better economic opportunities due to labor shortages after the plague, leading to higher wages and the weakening of feudalism and noble power. This transformation contributed to the disappearance of serfdom and the rise of capitalism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Peasants began to leave the manors primarily because they were seeking better economic opportunities. This exodus was propelled by massive depopulation and the incredible loss of life from plague, which led to labor shortages and consequently increased the demand for labor. Landlords offered more generous terms, and cities needed workers, creating an environment where peasants, especially male laborers, could demand higher wages and more rights.
In terms of the effect on the nobles, the departure of the peasants weakened the feudal system and the power of the nobility. With fewer peasants to work the land, the noble's income and hold over the rural population diminished. This shift was so significant that it led to peasant uprisings, further challenging the nobles' traditional privileges and eroding their power.
The economic and social upheaval resulted in the gradual vanishing of serfdom in Western Europe and paved the way for the development of a more capitalistic society with increasing power dynamics favoring towns, cities, and ultimately the rising merchant and middle classes.