The Wasting of Wolin: Environmental Factors in the Downfall of a Medieval Baltic Town
John Broich
This medieval environmental history examines the tenth-century industrial and trade town of Wolin which grew rapidly on an island immediately off northwestern coast Poland. It arose in environment incapable supporting its population 8000 - largest Baltic during period. Palaeobotanical evidence records island's large-scale deforestation rapid deterioration soils. Having outstripped local natural assets, quickly became dependent imported grain, lumber, resources. By mid-eleventh century, could no longer sustain itself, too exhausted to repulse, or recover from, sea-borne raids.
Environment and History