The Preplague Population of England
Josiah C. Russell
Sometime in the period 1300-48, English population reached its high point Middle Ages. All agree that it rose rapidly thirteenth century and dropped catastrophically 1348-77. Its course first half of century, however, is subject two sharply divergent opinions. One increased gradually to about 3,700,000 at outbreak plague, a which “the agricultural people were being crowded.” The other opinion less exact: height 1315, when great famine pestilence 1315-17 reduced markedly started decline, restrained perhaps by mild recovery decades before 1348. According this second theory was much denser than 3,700,000: even late England had “starving over-populated countryside,” with poor sokemen Lincolnshire — [struggling] support five on acres land,” “a society every appreciable failure harvests could result large increases deaths balanced margin subsistence.” This study will discuss pattern as appears Domesday Book descriptions manors called extents, must be understood order estimate properly. Next, consider some interesting evidence concerning social class differential mortality. Third, try mortality pestilence. Fourth, take up trend change from 1300 Fifth, reliability poll tax data. Lastly, problem household size relationship total period.
Journal of British Studies