Final answer:
Urban artisans in construction and spice merchants thrived during the Black Death due to demand for their services, while the overall quality of life for survivors improved due to social and economic shifts.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the Black Death, the character who thrived amidst the suffering was the urban artisan involved in the construction of madrasas, mosques, and tombs, owing to the increased demand for their work in expressing gratitude for survival. Spice merchants also saw a boom due to their critical role in the international spice trade, particularly in Egypt. Following the plague, industries in Mamluk cities declined, while construction and spice trade experienced a brief surge. Over time, the severe depopulation from the plague, famine, and war between 1300-1500 eventually led to economic and social shifts that improved the quality of life for the survivors, such as higher wages due to a reduced workforce and social mobility as societies rebuilt.