In Vino Veritas

Klimatologische en socio-economische verklaringen voor de neergang van de Leuvense wijnteelt

Author(s)

  • Lena Walschap KU Leuven

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18352/tseg.1118

Keywords:

sixteenth century, fifteenth century, Leuven, wine production, little ice age, climate change

Abstract

In Vino Veritas. Climatic and socioeconomic explanations for the decline of the wine production in Leuven. In the past, wine cultivation in Europe was much more widespread than it is today. However, around the sixteenth century, vineyards disappeared in many regions and wine cultivation was in decline. To explain this, convincing arguments have been made on the importance of both climatic and economic circumstances. By considering explanations from different viewpoints for the case of Leuven, this article explains why no consistent conclusion has been reached in the past. Climatic and economic factors were mutually reinforcing and cannot be considered separately. A combination of unpredictable harvests because of Little Ice Age weather types and small profits due to the unfavourable economic circumstances proved to be the perfect storm that caused the cultivation of grapevines in Leuven to no longer be worth pursuing.

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Author Biography

  • Lena Walschap, KU Leuven

    Lena Walschap (1997) werkt als wetenschappelijk medewerker aan de Onderzoeksgroep Middeleeuwen van de KU Leuven. Ze onderzoekt de kleine ijstijd en de impact hiervan op de samenleving. Haar interesse hiervoor ontstond bij het schrijven van haar masterthesis over de invloed van klimaatverandering op de evolutie van de Leuvense wijnteelt. In 2019 behaalde ze de Master in de Geschiedenis, specialisatie middeleeuwen aan de KU Leuven. Voor haar scriptie ontving zij de Scriptieprijs Brabantse Geschiedenis 2020.

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Published

2020-12-20

Issue

Section

Research Article

How to Cite

In Vino Veritas: Klimatologische en socio-economische verklaringen voor de neergang van de Leuvense wijnteelt. (2020). TSEG - The Low Countries Journal of Social and Economic History, 17(3), 37-73. https://doi.org/10.18352/tseg.1118