The Black Death, which struck Europe in 1347, caused devastating economic disruptions, leading to labor shortages and significant shifts in wages and monetary value. As the population declined, surviving workers demanded higher wages and better working conditions, challenging the existing feudal system. The aftermath of the plague ultimately contributed to social and economic transformations that laid the groundwork for the Renaissance and the modern world.

The economic disruptions caused by the Black Death in 1347 inspired works like Boccaccio's Decameron, which framed stories exploring human nature amidst chaos. Poets began to reflect on fortune, mortality, and the fragility of life in their narratives, shaping a literary response to societal upheaval.