Malthus

scientist/economist/? in the 18th century. hypothesis that human population can only grow to a certain environmental capacity above which it will be automatically checked by nature (epidemics)

applies to the situation of the medieval world in the 1300s (14th century): a "full world" which had reached its ecological breaking point

astronomical population growth had occured (population equaled the roman empire at its heyday) all forests had been cleared and turned into farmland (no more agricultural growth) animal raising had been pushed off land for the growth of grain= no more animal dung, no more nitrates in the soil by 1200, the weather had turned colder and wetter resulting in smaller food yields

significance: continent-wide situation that precipitated the Black Death. population was ripe for epidemic