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Matthias Boehm Econ 126 Robert Baden 01/28/Was there a ‘Malthusian Trap’ in Europe (1500 - 1640)? Cite evidence to support your claims.I believe that the Malthusian Trap still applied during 1500 and 1640 in Europe, however, not to the extent that it did previously. Gregory Clark believed that the M...

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Matthias Boehm Econ 126 Robert Baden 01/28/19 Was there a ‘Malthusian Trap’ in Europe (1500 - 1640)? Cite evidence to support your claims.

I believe that the Malthusian Trap still applied during 1500 and 1640 in Europe, however, not to the extent that it did previously. Gregory Clark believed that the Malthusian model applied until the 1800s in Europe, and soon after the industrial revolution began, other forces impaired the applicability of this model. Changes in technology, along with the societal and cultural changes during this time constitute the focal point of these forces. My claim is that the societal and cultural changes between 1500 and 1640 in Europe were already significant enough to eliminate some of the forces of the Malthusian trap. Even though the advancements and innovations during the 16th century didn’t compare to those of the industrial revolution that took place later on, this period was still coined by a vast economic growth. The economic expansion resulted in social, political and cultural changes that were relevant for the development of the early modern age. One reason why I believe the effects of the Malthusian Trap were damped during 1500 and 1640 is the underlying age of discovery that began during this time and lasted until the end of the 18th century. Extensive overseas explorations marked the beginning of globalization and as explained by Amber Pariona, “paved the way for trade between Europe, Asia, and Africa(2017).” This process thus led to increased colonialism and more settlement opportunities because urban communities weren’t so reliant on solely their own arrays of agricultural and industrial resources anymore. The expansion of populations throughout more locations

counteracts the notion of the Malthusian Trap that implies a decrease in high density populations as a result of increased living standards. Furthermore, this time period is described to be the beginning of Western capitalism. In the article “History of Europe” by Hermann Aubin et al., the authors suggest that “Capital assumed a major role not only in economic organization but also in political life and international relations(p.53, 2018).” And a more structured political framework in conjunction with capitalist ideologies could imply a more sustainable effort in preventing a fluctuating in population sizes. These two reasons support my claim that during 1500 and 1640 the Malthusian Trap is no longer as applicable as in the times of hunters and gatherers. This is also supported by the european demographic figures before and after this period. While a decline or stagnation of population was measured in the two centuries prior to 1500, the systemic population growth remained positive for the time beyond this period.

References Aubin, H. et al. (2018, December 7). “History of Europe.” Retrieved January 29, 2019, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/history-of-Europe/The-emergence-of-modern-Europe-1500-1648 Pariona, A. (2017, April 25). “What Was The Age Of Exploration?” Retrieved January 29, 2019, from https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-was-the-age-of-exploration-or-the-age-of-discovery.html...