How would you describe the population that existed right before the Black Death in terms of size availability of food and general health?

Answer 1

Before the Black Death in the mid-14th century, Europe had a growing population, estimated at around 75-100 million. This increase strained food resources, leading to periodic famines and malnutrition, particularly among the lower classes. General health was poor due to limited medical knowledge, unsanitary living conditions, and the prevalence of diseases, which made the population vulnerable to epidemics. As a result, many people were already in weakened states when the plague struck, exacerbating its devastating effects.