Das Wärmeoptimum des Hochmittelalters. Beobachtungen zur Klima- und Agrarentwicklung des Hoch- und Spätmittelalters

The article summarizes the findings of historical studies dealing with the so-called “warm period” in Central Europe from the 11th to the 13th century. The increase of the mean temperature of about 1-2° C had significant effects on medieval agriculture, population, settlement, urban economy, and culture. Due to the improvements of agriculture the cereal production was sufficient to supply the rapidly growing rural and urban population. A number of surveys clarify that during that period the cultivation of wine was extended to northern and eastern regions of Europe far from its ancient origins. Together with some major improvements in agriculture, the climatic optimum of the high Middle Ages was responsible for the enormous progress in Europe at that time. The increase of the population particularly stimulated the peasants to found new settlements, both in the traditionally populated regions and in colonized areas of Central Europe. In the 14th and 15th centuries this ascending motion ended whilst a period of climatic decline began, followed by the “Little Ice Age” of the early modern period.