The Crisis of the Fourteenth Century Class 11 – Concept, MCQs & Notes PDF
Topic covered: The Crisis of the Fourteenth Century class 11 notes and MCQs questions: The Three Orders (All single detail notes are exam-oriented).
We have discussed in-depth and exam-oriented pointers that can be asked in the board exam of class 11th about “The Crisis of the Fourteenth Century“ from the NCERT history notes for class 11th chapter 4 “The Three Orders”.
Download the NCERT History for Class 11th Chapter 4 The Three Orders Notes PDF
Download the NCERT History for Class 11th Chapter 4 The Three Orders Notes PDF for a detailed and easy-to-understand explanation of medieval European society. These notes begin with an introduction to feudalism and explain how the feudal system developed in France and England. You will clearly understand the three orders of society, focusing on the second order, the nobility, their privileges, duties, and life on the manorial estate, including the role of knights in feudal warfare.
The chapter also explains the first order, the clergy, covering monks, the Church, and its deep influence on social life, education, and moral values. Equal attention is given to the third order, peasants, both free and unfree, with specific references to England and their everyday struggles. In addition, the notes discuss factors affecting social and economic relations, the emergence of a possible fourth order with new towns, townspeople, and cathedral towns, and the major crisis of the fourteenth century, marked by social unrest and political changes. These NCERT-based notes are ideal for concept clarity, revision, and exam preparation.
The Crisis of the Fourteenth Century
1. Economic Slowdown in Europe (Early 14th Century):
- By the early fourteenth century, Europe’s economic expansion slowed down
- This slowdown occurred due to three major factors
Climatic Changes and Their Impact
1. End of Warm Climate:
- By the end of the thirteenth century, warm summers of the previous 300 years ended
- Summers became bitterly cold in northern Europe
2. Impact on Agriculture:
- Growing season reduced by one month
- Crops became difficult to grow on higher ground
- Storms and oceanic flooding destroyed farmsteads
- Governments received less tax income
Overuse of Land and Soil Exhaustion
1. Large-scale Land Reclamation:
- Forests and pastures were reclaimed for agriculture due to favourable climate
- Intensive ploughing exhausted the soil
2. Failure of Soil Conservation:
- Three-field rotation existed, but proper soil conservation was absent
- Soil fertility declined
3. Decline in Pasturage:
- Shortage of pasture land reduced the number of cattle
Population Pressure and Famines
1. Population vs Resources:
- Population growth outstripped available resources
- Immediate result was famine
2. Major Famines and Cattle Deaths:
- Severe famines struck Europe between 1315 and 1317
- Massive cattle deaths occurred in the 1320s
Crisis in Trade and Currency
1. Shortage of Metal Money:
- Trade suffered due to shortage of silver
- Caused by reduced output from silver mines in Austria and Serbia
2. Currency Debasement:
- Governments reduced silver content of coins
- Coins were mixed with cheaper metals
Spread of the Black Death
1. Arrival of the Plague:
- Expansion of trade brought ships from distant lands
- Ships carried rats infected with bubonic plague
- The disease was called the Black Death
2. Impact in Europe:
- Western Europe was hit between 1347 and 1350
- 20% of Europe’s population died
- Some regions lost up to 40% of their population
Areas Most Affected by the Plague
1. Cities and Trade Centres:
- Cities were hardest hit due to dense populations
2. Monasteries and Convents:
- In enclosed communities, plague spread rapidly
- Almost no one survived once infection began
3. Vulnerable Groups:
- Plague took the worst toll on:
- Infants
- Young people
- Elderly
Continued Plague and Population Decline
1. Later Plague Episodes:
- Minor outbreaks occurred in the 1360s and 1370s
2. Fall in Population:
- Population declined from 73 million (1300) to 45 million (1400)
Social and Economic Consequences
1. Social Dislocation:
- Combined impact of plague and economic crisis caused immense social dislocation
2. Labour Shortage:
- Depopulation led to acute labour shortage
- Imbalance developed between agriculture and manufacture
3. Price and Wage Changes:
- Prices of agricultural goods fell due to fewer buyers
- Wage rates increased sharply
- In England, demand for agricultural labour rose by up to 250%
- Labourers could demand double their earlier wages
Next & Previous Topics of NCERT/CBSE History Class 11 Chapter 4: The Three Orders
MCQs on NCERT History Class 11 Chapter 4 Topic – The Crisis of the Fourteenth Century Class 11
Here are the top exam-oriented MCQ-type questions on “The Crisis of the Fourteenth Century Class 11” that you should prepare for your CBSE or state board exams:
Question 1. By which century did Europe’s economic expansion begin to slow down?
A. Twelfth century
B. Thirteenth century
C. Early fourteenth century
D. Late fifteenth century
Answer: C
Question 2. One major reason for economic slowdown in northern Europe was:
A. Droughts
B. Bitterly cold summers
C. Excess rainfall
D. Volcanic eruptions
Answer: B
Question 3. The warm summers that ended by the late thirteenth century had lasted for about:
A. 100 years
B. 200 years
C. 300 years
D. 500 years
Answer: C
Question 4. Cold summers mainly affected agriculture by:
A. Improving soil fertility
B. Increasing rainfall
C. Reducing the growing season
D. Increasing crop prices
Answer: C
Question 5. Crop-growing seasons were reduced by approximately:
A. One week
B. Fifteen days
C. One month
D. Two months
Answer: C
Question 6. Growing crops became difficult especially on:
A. River valleys
B. Coastal plains
C. Higher ground
D. Delta regions
Answer: C
Question 7. Storms and oceanic flooding mainly destroyed:
A. Town markets
B. Ports
C. Farmsteads
D. Churches
Answer: C
Question 8. Destruction of farmsteads led to a decline in:
A. Trade profits
B. Military strength
C. Tax income for governments
D. Church revenue
Answer: C
Question 9. Large-scale land reclamation before the thirteenth century involved clearing:
A. Deserts
B. Marshes only
C. Forests and pastures
D. Mountains
Answer: C
Question 10. Intensive ploughing exhausted the soil mainly because:
A. Farmers were careless
B. Three-field system failed completely
C. Soil conservation was neglected
D. Rainfall decreased
Answer: C
Question 11. Despite using the three-field system, soil fertility declined due to:
A. Over-irrigation
B. Excess manure
C. Lack of conservation methods
D. Reduced labour
Answer: C
Question 12. Shortage of pasturage directly led to a reduction in the number of:
A. Sheep
B. Horses
C. Cattle
D. Pigs
Answer: C
Question 13. Population growth was outstripping:
A. Trade
B. Technology
C. Available resources
D. Urban development
Answer: C
Question 14. The immediate result of population pressure was:
A. Migration
B. Inflation
C. Famine
D. Rebellion
Answer: C
Question 15. Severe famines struck Europe between:
A. 1290–1300
B. 1305–1310
C. 1315–1317
D. 1325–1330
Answer: C
Question 16. Massive cattle deaths occurred mainly in the:
A. 1310s
B. 1320s
C. 1330s
D. 1340s
Answer: B
Question 17. Trade suffered due to a shortage of:
A. Gold
B. Copper
C. Metal money
D. Paper currency
Answer: C
Question 18. The shortage of metal money was caused by reduced silver output from mines in:
A. France and England
B. Spain and Portugal
C. Austria and Serbia
D. Italy and Greece
Answer: C
Question 19. To deal with silver shortages, governments:
A. Printed paper money
B. Increased taxes
C. Reduced silver content in coins
D. Stopped trade
Answer: C
Question 20. Currency was mixed with cheaper metals mainly to:
A. Increase its value
B. Maintain circulation
C. Encourage hoarding
D. Promote trade expansion
Answer: B
Question 21. The deadly disease brought by rats was known as:
A. Smallpox
B. Cholera
C. Bubonic plague
D. Typhus
Answer: C
Question 22. The bubonic plague is also referred to as:
A. Red Death
B. Great Famine
C. Black Death
D. Silent Killer
Answer: C
Question 23. Rats carrying the plague arrived in Europe through:
A. Caravan routes
B. Armies
C. Trade ships
D. Pilgrims
Answer: C
Question 24. Western Europe was hit by the Black Death between:
A. 1320–1325
B. 1330–1335
C. 1347–1350
D. 1360–1365
Answer: C
Question 25. Modern estimates suggest that about what percentage of Europe’s population died?
A. 10%
B. 15%
C. 20%
D. 50%
Answer: C
Question 26. Some regions lost as much as:
A. 25% of population
B. 30% of population
C. 40% of population
D. 60% of population
Answer: C
Question 27. Cities were hardest hit by the plague mainly because they were:
A. Poorly governed
B. Trade centres
C. Religious centres
D. Military hubs
Answer: B
Question 28. In monasteries and convents, plague spread rapidly because they were:
A. Isolated
B. Enclosed communities
C. Poorly ventilated
D. Near rivers
Answer: B
Question 29. In many monasteries affected by plague:
A. Some survived
B. Half survived
C. Most survived
D. None survived
Answer: D
Question 30. The plague took its worst toll among:
A. Soldiers
B. Merchants
C. Infants, young, and elderly
D. Clergy only
Answer: C
Question 31. Minor plague outbreaks occurred again during the:
A. 1350s
B. 1360s and 1370s
C. 1380s
D. 1390s
Answer: B
Question 32. Europe’s population in 1300 was approximately:
A. 45 million
B. 60 million
C. 73 million
D. 90 million
Answer: C
Question 33. By 1400, Europe’s population had fallen to about:
A. 60 million
B. 55 million
C. 50 million
D. 45 million
Answer: D
Question 34. The combined effect of plague and economic crisis led to:
A. Political stability
B. Social dislocation
C. Religious unity
D. Urban growth
Answer: B
Question 35. Depopulation resulted in a major shortage of:
A. Food
B. Capital
C. Labour
D. Land
Answer: C
Question 36. Shortage of labour caused imbalances between:
A. Church and state
B. Agriculture and manufacture
C. Town and village
D. Trade and transport
Answer: B
Question 37. Prices of agricultural goods dropped mainly because:
A. Overproduction
B. Better technology
C. Fewer buyers
D. Government control
Answer: C
Question 38. After the Black Death, wage rates in England rose by about:
A. 50%
B. 100%
C. 150%
D. 250%
Answer: D
Question 39. Labourers could demand higher wages because:
A. Laws supported them
B. Demand for labour increased
C. Trade revived
D. Population increased
Answer: B
Question 40. After the plague, surviving workers could demand:
A. Slightly higher wages
B. Equal wages
C. Twice their earlier wages
D. Fixed wages
Answer: C
Question 41. The description of mass deaths and burial practices reflects:
A. Religious exaggeration
B. Extreme mortality and panic
C. Efficient administration
D. Strong medical systems
Answer: B
Question 42. The inability of churchyards to handle burials suggests:
A. Poor planning
B. Lack of priests
C. Scale of deaths
D. Decline of religion
Answer: C
Question 43. Overall, the fourteenth-century crisis shows how closely linked were:
A. Religion and art
B. Climate, economy, and population
C. Trade and war
D. Kings and peasants
Answer: B