A combination of political stability and technological development, especially in agriculture and health, precipitated a dramatic rise of Europe's population in the eighteenth century.
Political stability
A. Prior to the eighteenth century, constant wars and violence prevented families from settling down
B. The rise of new, more stable nation states in both Western and Eastern Europe (during the first half of the 18th century) created a period of relative stability.
C. This allowed for more stable agriculture and family development, and ultimately a rise in population.
A. Since the end of the Middle Ages, agricultural productivity in Europe had been slowly improving-- this ongoing trend continued, perhaps peaked, in the 18th century.
B. New crops: New World crops started to become prevalent in European diets. Most notable was the potato, which was both easy to grow and astonishingly nutritious.
C. New techniques: 18th century agricultural strategies dramatically increased the efficiency of agriculture
1. Mechanization- Jethro Tull's seed drill, the iron plough, etc.
2. Crop rotation- The "open field system" was replaced by crop rotation, which was both more effective and more efficient. By planting nitrogen replenishing legumes, farmers could replenish the soil while still growing economically useful products
D. The availability of more nutritional food increased Europe's carrying capacity.
A sharp decline in infectious disease
A. Diseases, such as the Bubonic Plague, had decimated European populations in previous centuries
B. Advances in science and sanitation helped keep the plague and other diseases at bay (smallpox vaccine, for instance)
C. Improved communication and centralization allowed rural people to be more integrated into mainstream society and medical care
D. Thus, Europeans could live longer, more stable lives.
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