Part 3/10:
To fully comprehend the evolution of the Soviet economy, it is essential to trace back its roots to the 14th century and the entrenched feudal systems that dominated Europe, including Russia. The feudal system proved to be an extractive economic model, wherein kings decentralized land to lords who exploited serfs, leading to systemic inequality and poverty. However, the arrival of the bubonic plague in the 14th century disrupted this structure, causing a significant labor shortage and initiating a shift towards greater economic agency for the peasantry in Western Europe.