How the Black Death Affected the Textile Industry in the Holy Roman?

The Black Death of the 14th century profoundly impacted the textile industry in the Holy Roman Empire and Italy. This study examines the effects of the pandemic on labor dynamics, guild structures, and consumer demand, highlighting the interplay of economic, social, and psychological factors. The labor shortage caused by massive mortality increased the bargaining power of craftsmen, prompting partial adaptations in guild policies, while still maintaining restrictive practices. Simultaneously, the trauma of the plague influenced consumption patterns, with both the aristocracy and emerging middle class increasingly seeking luxury textiles, reflecting post-traumatic growth. Economic frameworks such as the Malthusian model further explain wage increases and shifts in resource allocation following population collapse. By combining historical evidence with theoretical analysis, this paper reveals how demographic catastrophe, institutional structures, and consumer psychology collectively shaped the evolution of the medieval textile industry.