(05-17-2016, 03:52 PM)Odin Wrote:(05-16-2016, 07:26 PM)Mikebert Wrote: Two millennia of Chinese secular cycles
http://cliodynamics.ru/download/Korotaye...apter2.pdf
I'm no expert on Chinese history by any means, but I have a hard time believing the severity of some of those population crashes.
Europe experienced a series of population crashes as well during its secular cycles. The European declines are less well documented (the Chinese have census figures). The biggest decline was the 14th-15th century which started with the Great Famine and was followed by the Black Death which killed 50 million resulting in a population decline of up to 60%.
The Plague of Justinian in 541-2 and its recurrences in the 6th and 7th centuries killed about half as many as the Black Death. It weakened both the Byzantine and Persian empires, making them ripe for conquest in the 7th century.
The Antonine Plague over 165-180 was less severe, but it's recurrence during the crisis of the thrid century helped the intensify population reductions due to economic collapse and war. These plagues were features of Chinese-like population cycles in Roman and medieval Europe.