500-year-old diaries tell a story of plague, famine and ‘despair’ in Transylvania
Researchers are using written documents from over 500 years ago to better understand an intense period of extreme heat and drought, famine and disease that plagued Transylvania during Europe’s “Little Ice Age,” one study shows.
These documents, which include diaries, calendar entries, religious registers and travel notes from diplomats, missionaries and monks, offer glimpses into how extreme weather impacted — and often undermined — social stability in Transylvania, according to a study published Feb. 11 in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers.
Climate “calamities” in Transylvania
From the 14th to the 19th century, the Earth experienced a cooling event called the “Little Ice Age,” according to researchers.
As the “Little Ice Age” intensified during the 16th century, western Europe cooled dramatically, with temperatures dropping by nearly 33 degrees Fahrenheit, researchers said.
In Transylvania, however, hot weather “was recorded with a much higher frequency than cold weather” during this period of intensification, according to the study.
In the first half of the 16th century, the region experienced years of intense heat and droughts which negatively affected crops and led to famine.
By the second half of the century, Transylvania saw increased rainfall and flooding, leading to more food shortages and the spread of disease, the study said.
Records reflect 30 years of a plague epidemic and 23 years of famine due to extreme climate shifts during this time, according to researchers.
“Air was thick with despair”
Researcher Tudor Caciora recalled a “compelling passage” from one of the documents, which described the drought during the summer of 1540.
“The springs dried up, and the rivers dwindled to mere trickles. Livestock fell in the fields, and the air was thick with despair as the people gathered in processions, praying for rain,” the passage read.
“This vivid account underscores the emotional and spiritual dimensions of living through climatic extremes,” Caciora said.
The research team included Ovidiu Răzvan Gaceu, Tudor Caciora, Stefan Baias, Cezar Morar, Mihai Dudaș, MariusStupariu and Maria Maxim.
Transylvania is located in central Romania.
This story was originally published February 14, 2025 at 2:06 PM with the headline "500-year-old diaries tell a story of plague, famine and ‘despair’ in Transylvania."
