Did the mid-14th-century pandemic diseases accelerate pre-existing social trends or did they completely overturn any social structure, socio-political institution, or way of life?

Did the mid-14^th-century pandemic diseases accelerate pre-existing social trends or did they completely overturn any social structure, socio-political institution, or way of life? European civilization did not succumb to the Black Death, but it did undergo an extraordinary transformation that was already in progress; it accelerated and amplified changes in labor, governance, and society. Throughout Europe, tensions long held between different classes and social groups erupted during those years, and these tensions came to be resolved in a series of historical events that greatly changed the continent’s landscape. Consider how you will anticipate counter-arguments (whether about rapid transformations or longer-term trends/continuities either side of the Black Death) and explain why you think they are wrong, or why both sides of the argument may have merit. And yes, definitely consider reading a couple of secondary sources relevant to this topic and explaining how your ideas connect with this existing historiography.
Those sources look good – Boccaccio and several of those in Rosemary Horrox. Keep in mind that both Barbra Rosenwein and Horrox contain many relevant primary sources, and you aren’t limited to just three, so do go ahead and incorporate whatever illustrates your argument well. Remember that good historical analysis considers its supporting sources’ limitations, too.

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