Great European Famine

The Great Famine of 1315–1317 (occasionally dated 1315–1322) was the first of a series of large-scale crises that struck Europe early in the 14th century. Most of Europe (extending east to Russia and south to Italy) was affected. The famine caused millions of deaths (7,500,000) over an extended number of years and marked a clear end to the period of growth and prosperity from the 11th to the 13th centuries.