The Great Famine was a major famine that afflicted much of Northern Europe in the early 14th century.
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It was triggered by a period of severe and persistent bad weather, including unusually cold temperatures and torrential rains, that began in 1315.
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The weather led to widespread and repeated crop failures for several years in a row.
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This resulted in mass starvation, malnutrition, and a sharp increase in disease.
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The famine caused a demographic crisis, killing an estimated 10% to 25% of the population in some areas.
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Food prices soared, and there were reports of extreme social breakdown, including cannibalism.
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Livestock were also affected by disease and lack of fodder, further crippling the agricultural economy.
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Medieval governments were unable to cope with the scale of the crisis.
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The famine weakened the population, making them more susceptible to the later devastation of the Black Death.
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It marked the end of the period of growth and prosperity known as the Medieval Warm Period.
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