Weather in Medieval England
During the Medieval Period England experienced unique
climate changes. During the beginning of
the Middle Ages England experienced the Medieval Warm Period. Following the Medieval Warm Period, the
Little Ice Age brought centuries worth of cooler temperatures. Both of these periods of weather brought
about changes in agriculture and standards of living.
Records of weather in the Medieval Period were found in two
main sources: narrative and administrative sources. Narrative sources used direct account type
writing to describe weather events, often those that were extreme. Included in
narrative sources are weather diaries, which were rare but very useful citing
specific weather conditions for a particular area. Only three weather diaries exist from
Medieval England. The following is a
piece from William Merle’s diary from May 1339:
A.D. 1339. […] In May there was
light rain for three days, great heat for eight days, and on the 13th much rain.
The third week was very rainy, and the fourth more rainy than the third. On the
third day of the fourth week there was thunder and rain. (Symons, 1891). Administrative sources often came from established
institutions (municipalities and churches) and not individual authors. They often logged economic growth or decline
which in some cases, such as with agricultural businesses, was directly linked
to the weather of that time.
The Medieval Warm Period brought about temperatures that
were warmer and a drier climate than later centuries and actually warmer than
average temperatures around the world today (about one degree Celsius). This period occurred between 900 A.D. and
1300 A.D. It is believed that it
occurred as a result of increase in solar activity and decrease in volcanic
activity. Though the exact locations
around the world that were affected by this are often debated, there is enough
documentation to confirm that England was among the affected regions. This provided a time of flourishing crops,
advances in economy, and growing populations and cities. For the first time England was able to grow
grapes and create viable vineyards, something that it is unable to do today.
Following the Medieval Warm
Period, the Little Ice Age (1300 A.D. to 1870 A.D.) brought cooler
temperatures, longer and colder winters, and prolonged periods of rain during
the summer. Such climate change caused
crops to fail and famine to become more wide spread throughout Medieval
England. With the agricultural decline
and the failure of farms and vineyards due to the destruction of harvests and
supplies, prices increased for produce and grain. Some have even linked the Black Death to the
famine caused by the Little Ice Age that caused weakening of the human immune
system due to malnutrition.
Medieval society also believed that weather could be
controlled by higher powers. Farmers
would often perform ceremonies to please certain saints so that the weather
would provide for their crop that year. They also believed that weather was a
reward of “good behavior” and severe weather could result as the result of
sins, whether it be the sins of the common farmer and peasant or the sins of
the ruler of a kingdom.
The weather during the Medieval Period is characterized by
the two distinct climate changes: the
Medieval Warm Period and Little Ice Age.
Significant phases of cultural and economic growth can be seen during
the Medieval Warm Period and the consequences of dropping temperatures are seen
during decline of the Little Ice Age.
This shows clearly how the climate of Medieval England had a direct
influence of how the country developed and declined during that time.
Sources:
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