FAMINE OR STARVATION? FOOD CRISIS IN TRANSYLVANIA, BANAT AND PARTIUM FROM 1813 TO 1818, AS REFLECTED IN CONTEMPORARY SOURCES
FAMINE OR STARVATION? FOOD CRISIS IN TRANSYLVANIA, BANAT AND PARTIUM FROM 1813 TO 1818, AS REFLECTED IN CONTEMPORARY SOURCES

Summary/Abstract: The Habsburg territories of Transylvania, Banat and Partium were 1813-1818 adversely affected by severe weather events which caused the decrease of agricultural production and the increase of food prices, which in turn led to underfeeding and hunger. The period under examination begins in the summer of 1813, when very low winter temperatures and a cool summer were recorded in these provinces. It continues with the summer of 1815, when these parts of Europe witnessed extensive climatic anomalies, and ends in 1818 when the administrative measures introduced to combat the food crisis proved effective. The authorities took organizational and instructive measures to make land cultivation, animal husbandry, gardening, fruit-growing, and forestry more efficient, and also advised on household economy and family hygiene.The sources consist of hand-written notes made in liturgical books, local chronicles and miscellaneous others. The causes of starvation were: wars, weather anomalies and a financial crisis.

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