History of Consumption and Waste, Renaissance

From the vantage point of the 21st century, the Renaissance is a period that is remembered for art, literature, music, science, and exotic luxuries, which can be seen as hallmarks of the expansion of the human mind and spirit. The Renaissance, literally a “rebirth,” signaled a stage in European history when man sought to understand not only the world but also the human condition, in new and vividly creative ways. By the middle of the 16th century, Leonardo da Vinci had created fanciful machines and intricate anatomical drawings, Martin Luther had challenged the authority of the Roman Catholic Church, and Christopher Columbus had proven that the world is round. International commerce expanded on an unprecedented scale, and the wealth of monarchs, clergy, and noblemen fueled widespread decadence and competitive patronage of the arts. Universities were established to foster education in literature, science, philosophy, and history. With advances in translation and printing, books became accessible for many.

But to consider just the riches of the Renaissance is to adopt a myopic view. Europe during the Renaissance was also a very restless and volatile part of the world. Political upheaval forced the redefinition of once-feudal states into centralized territorial states, commercial battles ensued over trade routes, and corruption and debt cast shadows across society. The church often exerted influence on the state in domestic and international arenas. The discovery of distant lands resulted in the exploitation of indigenous peoples and their resources, ultimately leading to colonization and slavery. Death was an ever-present reality that took the guise of war, famine, or disease, affecting both rich and poor with equal consequence. In Renaissance Europe, misery served as a counterweight to opulence. To understand this dichotomy and the socioeconomic forces behind it, one must consider the long-term effects of climatic changes originating in the previous period. For the majority of Europeans, patterns of consumption and waste during the Renaissance hinged directly on subtle, but lasting, shifts in the weather that had far-reaching consequences on land, at sea, and even in the religious imagery of the afterlife.

For a span of four centuries, from about 800 to 1200, Europeans enjoyed a time of mild and stable weather known as the Medieval Warm Period. These years witnessed great trends of exploration and activity: the Norse established settlements in distant lands of the North Atlantic, majestic cathedrals were erected in France and England, and resources were amassed to support the Crusades. Both poor and rich found sustenance in the annual harvest, and during the Medieval Warm Period, regular, predictable seasons meant that harvests were plentiful enough to feed people and livestock. Some were able to supplement their diet with fish or game, and hearty farm animals ensured that there would be plenty of manure to fertilize the next cycle of crops. This also meant that wool and leather were widely available commodities. Human and animal populations rose dramatically during the Medieval Warm Period, and villages sprang up on formerly open tracts of undeveloped land. Despite localized conflicts and the struggles of vassal relationships, life was generally good. Christianity provided a social order that was felt across Europe, and people sought to demonstrate their devotion and gratitude to God in their daily lives.

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