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Message: <blockquote data-quote="DrunkonDuty" data-source="post: 3875255" data-attributes="member: 54364">Wow. That's a BIG ask there Roman.Now I'm only an amateur historian (never formally studied it) but before an answer could even begin to be given you'd have to narrow down the questions. A lot.There's so many variables. Like Where in the world? Precisely When in pre-modern times? What crops are we talking about? What about conditions like good or bad transport; epidemics; wars.Even the literacy question is hard as the "official" method of measuring this is by comparing the number of people who sign there name in church registers as opposed to those who simply make there mark. Many people argue that the ability to sign ones name is not evidence of literacy.Sorry if I'm coming across as a bit harsh. I'm not meaning to. I realise you've put a bit of thought into these questions your self already: the asterisked footnote about city states shows you realise that there's more to it than just on the surface.Of them all 2 is the one you might get the easiest answer to. Even then it will vary from time to time, place to place.I'd recommend trying to locate a professional historic database of articles. Just been trying google and it doesn't really cut it.But you've provoked me to investigate further. If I find anything I'll let you know. (I'm going to try some universities, see if there's anything online.) But gotta remember that the data is still going to be rough estimates made by modern historians based on (usually) scanty primary sources.Oh: I'd recommend the Cambridge Medieval History or the Cambridge Ancient History as good starts.cheers,</blockquote>

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