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a '''Malthusian crisis''' is a situation in which the population in a given area has exceeded its food supply and therefore mass starvation results. This lowers the population and the cycle continues until the population and its food supply are once again in balance.  

A '''Malthusian crisis''' is a situation in which the [[population]] in a given area has exceeded its [[food]] supply and therefore mass [[starvation]] results. This lowers the population and the cycle continues until the population and its food supply are once again in balance.  

This concept was proposed by the Reverend [[Thomas Malthus]] in 1798 in his "''Essay on the Principle of Population''". Malthus was an English [[economist]].   

This concept was proposed by the Reverend [[Thomas Malthus]] in 1798 in his "''Essay on the Principle of Population''". Malthus was an English [[economist]].   

'''Malthusianism''' is a theory in [[demography]] regarding population growth. It holds that population expands faster than food supplies. Famine will result unless steps are taken to reduce population growth.  

'''Malthusianism''' is a theory in [[demography]] regarding population growth. It holds that population expands faster than food supplies. Famine will result unless steps are taken to reduce population growth.  

==Pre-Malthus notions==

==Pre-Malthus notions==

Over the centuries many theorists have considered one or another aspect of population, usually to promote the policy of more people (“pronatalist.”) The early Christian tradition, however, was “antinatalist”, with the highest prestige going to priests, monks and nuns who were celibate.  

Over the centuries many theorists have considered one or another aspect of population, usually to promote the policy of more people (“pronatalist.”) The early Christian tradition, however, was “antinatalist”, with the highest prestige going to priests, monks and nuns who were celibate.  

==Uses by historians==

==Uses by historians==

Neo-Malthusian historians M. M. Postan and Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie explained the decline of feudalism in terms of impersonal economic and demographic forces.  To the contrary, argued Marxist Robert Brenner, who stressed instead the role of class struggle between lords and peasants in medieval Europe.<ref> T. H. Ashton and C. H. E. Philpin, eds. ''The Brenner Debate: Agrarian Class Structure and Economic Development in Pre-Industrial Europe'' (1985) </ref>  

Neo-Malthusian historians M. M. Postan and Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie explained the decline of feudalism in terms of impersonal economic and demographic forces.  To the contrary, argued Marxist Robert Brenner, who stressed instead the role of class struggle between lords and peasants in medieval Europe.<ref> T. H. Ashton and C. H. E. Philpin, eds. ''The Brenner Debate: Agrarian Class Structure and Economic Development in Pre-Industrial Europe'' (1985) </ref>  

==Bibliography==

==Bibliography==

[[Category:Economics]]

[[Category:Economics]]

[[Category:Demography]]

[[Category:Demography]]