Paper Summary:

This paper presents the evidence that suggests that there was a population crisis in Europe pre-1348. It then discusses if the high mortality levels during the Black Death were partly as a result of that crisis. It specifically explores whether, despite nearly a century of declining growth, the overall trend of rising people numbers triggered raised mortality rates per population.

From the Paper:

"Therefore, as has been stated throughout, there was, undeniably, a population crisis pre-1348. The debate remains, however, as to what form this took. The weight of evidence seems to show that due to a number of inter-related and cumulative factors, the European peasantry faced large mortality rates long before the Black Death. Over-population meant most peasants were inhabiting smaller plots of land, facing a consequential reduction in nourishment and ultimately, a lower standard of living. Moreover, as the population increased and marginal lands of less arable value were used, there were 'rising rents on the more arable land' and 'even poor land was going up in price' , reducing the purchasing power of the peasantry. Zvi and Fiumi are the primary detractors from this view. However, both are limited in their geographical scope and neither provides conclusive proof for the theories of increasing population up to 1348 or the benefits of thirteenth century growth. Whether the Black Death solved the population crisis is debatable, but the improving conditions for the peasantry that followed it - such as increased plots and wages - serve as a useful juxtaposition to early fourteenth century conditions; a proof that a population crisis did exist before 1348."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bailey, M., The Concept of the Margin in the Medieval English Economy, The Economic History Review, New Series, Vol. 42, No. 1., Feb., 1989.
• Bennett and Hollister, Medieval Europe: A Short History, McGraw-Hill, 10th Edition, 2006.
• Bridbury, A. R., Before the Black Death, The Economic History Review, New Series, Vol. 30, No. 3., 1977.
• Fiumi, San Gimignano.
• Herlihy, D., Population, Plague and Social Change in Rural Pistoia, 1201-1430, The Economic History Review, New Series, Vol. 18, No. 2.,1965.

Visitors who viewed this Research Paper also liked these:

• Essay # 36600 : "The European Miracle"
• Book Review # 145645 : "The European Union: Politics and Policies" - A Review"
• Analytical Essay # 56569 : "The European Dream"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: