European historyLesson 1 of 1 in the course Climate Change and Plague in the Fourteenth Century

Climate Change, the Great Famine, and Premodern Migration

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

This lesson explores how scholars reconstruct past climates and why environmental change mattered to people in the fourteenth century.

Traditional written sources often contain only limited information about earlier weather. Historical climatology addresses this gap by reconstructing past climates and comparing them with modern conditions. Scholars combine evidence from different fields rather than relying on a single record.

All flashcards

Historical climatology
The reconstruction and study of past climates using written records and natural evidence.
The Little Ice Age
A period of unusually cold conditions across much of the Northern Hemisphere, beginning in the fourteenth century.
The Great Famine
A northern European famine from 1315 to 1317, linked to cold, wet conditions and repeated poor harvests.
Climate refugee
A person forced to leave home because environmental hardship threatens survival.
Caravansary
An inn along a trade route where travelers and caravans could rest.

Quiz questions

  1. What weather conditions damaged harvests during the Great Famine in much of Europe north of the Alps?Answer: Heavy summer rains and cold conditions.
  2. According to Johannes de Trokelowe, how did the price of a quarter of wheat in 1313 compare with the reported price during the famine?Answer: It rose from five shillings to twenty shillings.
  3. What is the hajj?Answer: A Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca.
  4. Why might climate-stressed people migrate when food shortages threaten their survival?Answer: They may leave home to seek food and more stable conditions.
  5. What was one possible consequence of increased movement between communities?Answer: Travelers could spread infectious diseases as well as goods and ideas.

Based on World History Volume 1, to 1500 by Ann Kordas, Ryan J. Lynch, Brooke Nelson, Julie Tatlock (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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