The Age of Adversity: The 14th Century is a book by Robert Lerner. It outlines the disasters of the 14th century, one particularly prone to
disaster. A quick overview of the major events that helped to make this one of the most deadly eras in which to live:
1.
Overexpansion and
overpopulation: In 1000 CE, the population of
Europe was around 40 million. By 1400, the population had increased to over 100 million. There was enormous town development during this period, partially because of the
asartine movement. Surplusses of grain led to a
depression of
agricultural prices, and yields dropped on the marginal lands. People left the
farms in droves to
migrate to the towns, increasing the chances that a major
disease would decimate Europe.
2. The Little
Ice Age of 1315-1317: A major
climate change began in 1315; Europe went from
sunny and mild to wet and cold. Before the Little Ice Age, even England was warm enough to grow
grapes for
wine. Afterwards, there were
crop failures all over Europe, and the food content of the grain that did live was quite poor. The result was widespread
famine and
malnutrition.
3. Appearance of the
Ottoman Turks: The Ottoman Turks cut off
trade routes with the East, which resulted in a rise in the price of
imported goods. They took
Adrianople in 1356, and annexed much of the
Balkan Penninsula over the next 30 years. They also laid a major
seige of
Constantinople in 1400, to which the city almost fell.
4. Chronic
Warfare: The 14th century saw innumerable
military conflicts all over Europe, the most significant of which was
the Hundred Years War.
5. The
Black Plague: From 1348 to 1349, the plague ravished Europe, with a death rate from 20 to 50%. The crowded cities and malnourished population only increased the death toll, so that in the end, one third to one half of Europe was killed off.
The
economic ramifications of these disasters were not all bad. Agriculture suffered the most because of an oversupply of food.
Industry recovered more quickly because of the large
urban population. There was an acute
labor shortage, so that those who managed to live through the disasters were rewarded by a sharp
wage increase. The landholders suffered most of all, becuase of the high wages they had to pay and the high industrial prices; squabbles over these issues led to the Peasants' Revolt of 1381 in England. However, the
standard of living for most people rose. Banking and bookkeeping developed during this century. However, there was much social
unrest.
Wool workers in Florence revolted in 1378, and
class disputes led the lower and middle classes to ally against the upper class.