HISTORY 1CC3 Lecture 8: The Black Death and Trade
30 Jan 2017
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Document Summary
After little optimum and period of growth/warmth- there was wealth to be siphoned off by venice and constantinople (choke point cities that controlled trade) Population growth from 1000 ce to 1350 ce (result of little optimum)- Europe grew from about 35 million to 80 million. New land cleared, deforestation- considerable wealth, prosperity, and pop. growth before the plague hits. Open field horticulture was common across northern europe, every row assigned to a farmer/family, rotation over time, declines after plague. Explosion of arts and architecture because of the wealth fro the textile trade (wool) Black death leaves lots of wealth but removes population- silver lining is the abundance of silver coins left to families as a consequence of black death. Silver flows from europe to egypt, constantinople, then to asia- demand for luxury goods from china. Complicated impact of a sudden decline of population. Inflation led to a rise in peasant revolts. Closed field system- ideal for animal husbandry.
