Casualties of the Three Kingdoms War

[alfred russel]

What if you compared the population decline in Europe during the crisis of the third century or the late fourth through early 6th century?

[Razgovory]

What if you compared the population decline in Europe during the crisis of the third century or the late fourth through early 6th century?

About 30%.

[The Brain]

80-90% seems awfully high.  The Thirty years war killed 30-40% of the population of Germany and it's considered one of the most devastating wars in European history.  Killed the 80-90% of the population seems like it would be hard to do.  Most people in a pre-modern world were farmers and don't rely that much on central government.

I guess though with Germany you still had surrounding countries which were relatively unaffected, and though Germany may have had armies marching across it tearing it apart every other year, food could still get in from overseas.
First millenium China pretty much stood alone.

How much food do you think that destitute rural peasants were importing?  If anything, the fact that surrounding countries were relatively unaffected would indicate more damage.  Armies were less affected by the decline in resources in Germany since they were payed and supplied by outside entities.

IIRC the Swedish army in Germany during the 30YW was supported mostly by local resources.

[Josquius]

How much food do you think that destitute rural peasants were importing?  If anything, the fact that surrounding countries were relatively unaffected would indicate more damage.  Armies were less affected by the decline in resources in Germany since they were payed and supplied by outside entities.

Towns and merchants existed.