How does a change in the mortality rate explain population growth in the early modern period?

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Page 1                                                                         Sarah Humphreys

How does a change in the mortality rate explain population growth in the

early modern period?

Throughout the early modern period the mortality rate varied a great deal, and was generally characterised by “dramatic short run fluctuations,” low life expectancy, high infant mortality and increased quantities of deaths as a result of severe epidemic outbreaks. Throughout this era, Europe experienced numerous mortality crises in which the number of deaths vastly exceeded the average number of deaths. An example of this mortality crisis can be observed by looking at the parish of Os, Norway. 57 deaths was the average number of expected mortalities per non crisis year between 1669 and 1735. Os experienced 9 crises throughout this 60 year period in which the rate of deaths grew by 50%.  This pattern was common throughout Europe. There were three key factors that caused these great fluctuations in the amount of deaths between 1500 and 1789 and they were; epidemics, war and famine.

Epidemics of the plague and diseases such as influenza, typhus, typhoid and smallpox were a principle reason behind the millions of deaths throughout Europe. Figures show the devastation caused by these epidemics; it has been claimed that during the period of 1557 to 1559 “a tenth of the English population died” as a result of influenza. The infamous plague ravaged through many European towns and cities and caused an increase in the mortality rate. In London, for example, in the three key years of 1603, 1625 and 1665, in which the Plague struck this city approximately 200,000 people were killed. In other European countries such as France, between “2.2 and 3.3 million” people fell victims to the plague in a large part of the seventeenth century. Amsterdam, Santander and Barcelona are also key examples of municipalities in which the plague killed masses of civilians. These epidemics spread uncontrollably throughout Europe and being so deadly played a significant role in the great increase in the mortality rate at certain points throughout this era.

Page 2                                                                         Sarah Humphreys

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Although epidemics played the chief role in increasing the mortality rate at certain points throughout the early modern era, famine and the inability for average citizens to gain access to sufficient food sources also led to many deaths. Bad harvests often led to shortages of food and in turn weakened immune systems and a person’s ability to fight disease. From this perspective it is hard to put a figure on the amount of deaths caused by famine and a lack of food, as usually the starvation experienced did not actually cause death, but instead it made a large contribution to ...

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This essay covers mortality well but is rather one- sided and could be improved by a more in-depth consideration of the role of fertility in population growth. It would also be helpful to give an overview of the overall changes in population level in Europe in this period to put the arguments in a wider context. 4 stars.