Part 5/10:
However, this interconnectedness often bore the duality of human nature—hardship sometimes elicited opportunism. Villages adopted measures to control food prices during famine, fearing public backlash against those who would exploit misery. For instance, bakers caught inflating bread prices faced not only humiliation but severe repercussions, highlighting that morality was imperative for the survival of the community.
The Plague and Collective Action
Fast forward to 1349, and we find ourselves in Cologne, gripped by the horrors of the Black Death. Here, self-flagellants sought atonement for perceived sins. While our modern lens may dismiss such actions, they indicate a collective response to widespread despair.