The Malthusian Crisis
argued that high population and low resources created a situation in which a crisis was inevitable. Certainly, populations were high and prices for basic foodstuffs had risen in the first half of the century. However, populations were already beginning the decline before the Black Death.
A Malthusian crisis should thus have occurred earlier.
Further, even after populations had collapsed in the first wave of pestilence, subsequent plagues continued to rock
Europe and demographic recovery did not occur until the late part of the fifteenth century. Unfortunately, Herlihy also downplays the possible consequences of famine and malnutrition on the morbidity and mortality of epidemic disease. This makes what could be a complex and nuanced
argument
A Malthusian crisis should thus have occurred earlier.
Further, even after populations had collapsed in the first wave of pestilence, subsequent plagues continued to rock
Europe and demographic recovery did not occur until the late part of the fifteenth century. Unfortunately, Herlihy also downplays the possible consequences of famine and malnutrition on the morbidity and mortality of epidemic disease. This makes what could be a complex and nuanced
argument