Population+Explosion+1600

Changes in the demographic structure and reproductive patterns of Europeans: causes and consequences

Population Explosion 1600 The Population Explosion already started to take place by 1500 but it reached its heights by 1600. After a great drop in population after the Black Death in 1350 which caused labor shortages and low food prices, many people surprisingly thrived, resulting in a rising standard of living. Most people also managed not to get involved into warfare or conflicts of any kind. This period of exceptionally well-being for the average European ended as a great population surge which reached its height by 1600, demanded more agricultural production than possible. Food prices rose as there was less food per person available. The bad situation the economy was in, later intensified as silver and gold from the Spanish colonies caused a inflation known as the Price Revolution. The standard of living began to drop, and Europe fell into a widespread poverty. After the 1600, the Price Revolution and the Population Explosion, the population growth slowed dramatically and stopped in seventeenth century Europe.

MLA: McKay, John P. __History of Western society__. 7th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2003.