Famine and Population
By the early 14th century in Europe a change in climate resulted in the disaster now called the little ice age. The temperature dropped, not dramatically, however enough to allow farmers shortened harvesting seasons. These mini farming periods resulted in a shortage of food and eventually starvation. In some parts of Europe the climate changed in other ways as well, including in the North where there were torrential down pours which like the drop in temperature also resulted in salvation as the rains killed the harvests. It is thought that through these climate disasters about 10% of the European population died in the early 14th century.
While the weather in the 14th century destroyed crops it was not the only factor contributing towards Europe's starvation at the time. Scholars believe that around the early 14th century Europe had reached as sort of maximum population capacity. This is because the amount of food being produced by the farms left untouched by the weather wasn't enough to sustain the populace. In some cases those who might have been working the land to begin with decided to migrate to cities as we know that the 14th century was a time of peasant migration. We know this due to the shrinking of property size to accommodate the city new comers and due to the increase in the number of poor living in each city.
The overpopulation of Europe in combination with the close quarters of cities and the almost universal starvation factor are all said to have contributed to the mortality rate of the Black Death amongst Europeans because it made them more susceptible to infection and disease.
While the weather in the 14th century destroyed crops it was not the only factor contributing towards Europe's starvation at the time. Scholars believe that around the early 14th century Europe had reached as sort of maximum population capacity. This is because the amount of food being produced by the farms left untouched by the weather wasn't enough to sustain the populace. In some cases those who might have been working the land to begin with decided to migrate to cities as we know that the 14th century was a time of peasant migration. We know this due to the shrinking of property size to accommodate the city new comers and due to the increase in the number of poor living in each city.
The overpopulation of Europe in combination with the close quarters of cities and the almost universal starvation factor are all said to have contributed to the mortality rate of the Black Death amongst Europeans because it made them more susceptible to infection and disease.