Question
Why did Medieval Europe suffer a devastating drop in population during the late-thirteenth and early-fourteenth centuries?
Responses
Many knights were killed during the Crusades and the Hundred Years’ War.
Many knights were killed during the Crusades and the Hundred Years’ War.
A period of bad weather led to a time of famine, which was almost immediately followed by the Bubonic plague.
A period of bad weather led to a time of famine, which was almost immediately followed by the Bubonic plague.
The Inquisition put many people to death for heresy.
The Inquisition put many people to death for heresy.
As anti-Semitism became prevalent, thousands of Jews were killed or expelled from Europe.
Responses
Many knights were killed during the Crusades and the Hundred Years’ War.
Many knights were killed during the Crusades and the Hundred Years’ War.
A period of bad weather led to a time of famine, which was almost immediately followed by the Bubonic plague.
A period of bad weather led to a time of famine, which was almost immediately followed by the Bubonic plague.
The Inquisition put many people to death for heresy.
The Inquisition put many people to death for heresy.
As anti-Semitism became prevalent, thousands of Jews were killed or expelled from Europe.
Answers
GPT-5 mini
A period of bad weather led to a time of famine, which was almost immediately followed by the Bubonic plague.
Explanation: from about 1315–17 Europe suffered the Great Famine (cold, wet summers, crop failures, livestock losses) that left people malnourished and vulnerable. Then the Black Death (Yersinia pestis, arriving c.1347–1351) killed an estimated 30–50% of Europe’s population. These two crises together explain the severe population collapse.
Why the other answers are wrong or insufficient:
- Crusades and the Hundred Years’ War caused deaths and disruption but on a far smaller scale than famine + plague.
- The Inquisition’s executions were numerically minor compared with the plague’s toll.
- Anti‑Semitic killings and expulsions affected Jewish communities tragically but were not large enough to account for the continent‑wide population collapse.
Explanation: from about 1315–17 Europe suffered the Great Famine (cold, wet summers, crop failures, livestock losses) that left people malnourished and vulnerable. Then the Black Death (Yersinia pestis, arriving c.1347–1351) killed an estimated 30–50% of Europe’s population. These two crises together explain the severe population collapse.
Why the other answers are wrong or insufficient:
- Crusades and the Hundred Years’ War caused deaths and disruption but on a far smaller scale than famine + plague.
- The Inquisition’s executions were numerically minor compared with the plague’s toll.
- Anti‑Semitic killings and expulsions affected Jewish communities tragically but were not large enough to account for the continent‑wide population collapse.