What Were The Most Important Events of the 14th Century?
Last updated on July 22nd, 2022 at 06:31 pm
The 14th century was an era of new beginnings, new technological advancements and growing empires. However, it was also a time of crisis and transformation for many people.
This period saw the end of the Great Mongolian Empire, which had ruled central Asia for more than a century. It witnessed invasions by new powers like the Teutonic Knights and the Kingdom of Scotland and conflicts between those invaders and local defenders. It also saw many small cities grow into large economic hubs, as they started producing luxury goods for export to other parts of Europe or Asia. But these are all just the tips of the iceberg of this iconic century.
Let’s dive deep into some of the significant events that took place from 1301 to 1400 in Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America, events that changed the world forever.
Europe’s population reached its peak for the next few centuries
Europe experienced a population boom between the 10th and 14th centuries. This was largely due to improved agricultural techniques, which allowed farmers to produce more food with less effort. Many people also had more time to work on the land because of the increased productivity. As a result, between 1000 and 1300, the population of Europe rose massively, from around 56 million in 1000 to 70 million people by 1300.
This was due to a combination of high birth rates and lower death rates and allowed for larger growth, more soldiers in national and country-wide armies, more farmers, expansive culture, and craft and trade. This explosion in population figures is so important because it led to the development of strong states, which helped with defense and expansion.
The Great Famine of Europe 1315-1317
While populations were growing rapidly, that doesn’t mean that this growth didn’t come without consequences or downfalls. For example, between 1315 and 1317, Europe was struck by a severe famine. It’s estimated that one-third of the European population died during the famine.
The famine was caused by a combination of factors that included a prolonged period of cool, wet weather in Europe that coincided with a decrease in use for growing crops. It started around Spring 1315, when an unusually heavy amount of rain fell on the continent, a downpour that continued throughout summer. Grain couldn’t ripen well in these conditions, meaning food shortages began, and even the stocks of straw and hay used to look after and raise animals were suffering. With a lack of food beginning, prices for meals rose; price increases many families could not afford.
Aside from the natural weather reasons, the high population counts also contributed to the severity of the famine, weakening populations which then paved the way for diseases and pandemics like the Black Death.
The Black Death killed millions
The bubonic plague, also known as the Black Death, arrived in Europe in 1347. It quickly spread across the continent, killing millions of people who were already in a poor and weakened state due to poor weather and famine. It’s estimated that a third of Europe’s population was wiped out during the plague.
Fleas carried the disease on rats, which were common in Europe’s cities. The population of these cities had grown rapidly since the Middle Ages, when cities were often small towns. The Black Death is believed to have started in Asia, but it later spread to Europe, Africa, and the Americas during the 14th century. The Black Death was caused by a bacteria called Yersinia pestis, carried by fleas living on rats. These fleas were common in cities where many people were living together in close quarters. Rats are also very common in city streets, so they can spread the disease quickly among humans.
It is believed that rats played a bigger role than fleas because they were much more efficient at spreading infection than fleas. Rats are better at spreading disease because they live in close quarters with humans and can travel long distances easily through sewers and other places where people don’t usually go.
