The Backbone of Europe: Health, Diet, Work and Violence Over Two Millennia (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781108421959)

Using human skeletal remains, this volume traces health, workload and violence in the European population over the past 2,000 years. Health was surprisingly good for people who lived during the early Medieval Period. The Plague of Justinian of the sixth century was ultimately beneficial for health because the smaller population had relatively more resources that contributed to better living conditions. Increasing population density and inequality in the following centuries imposed an unhealthy diet - poor in protein - on the European population. With the onset of the Little Ice Age in the late Middle Ages, a further health decline ensued, which was not reversed until the nineteenth century. While some aspects of health declined, other attributes improved. During the early modern period, interpersonal violence (outside of warfare) declined possibly because stronger states and institutions were able to enforce compromise and cooperation. European health over the past two millennia was hence multifaceted in nature.

Author: Richard H. Steckel
ISBN-10: 1108421954
ISBN-13: 9781108421959
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Language: English
Published: 11/15/2018
Pages: 476
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 2.40lbs
Size: 10.10h x 7.40w x 1.00d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 05/01/2019