8.5.1. Agricultural and social responses to the Black Death in Sweden

In Sweden like in most of Europe the medieval expansion was followed by decline during the fourteenth and fifteenth century. Even though other factors may have contributed to the decline, a major cause was the plague pandemic, the Black Death, which reached Sweden in 1350. The first struck was followed by several recurring outbreaks, leading to population drop as well as social unrest. Different opinions have been put forward regarding the force of the epidemics and the magnitude of the population drop. According to earlier research, Sweden came off relatively well, possibly due to its small and scattered population (Gissel et al. 1981; Nordberg 1995). However, later research gives a different picture and suggests a larger population drop (Palm 2001; Myrdal 2003). According to the latest estimation, the total Swedish population decreased by around 40% between 1350 and 1450 (Myrdal 2012, p.227).