Claim: Alpine transhumance became increasingly important during the Late Middle Ages, the period of European history lasting from 1250 to 1500 AD, and cattle production was much less manpower-intensive than farming.
Evidence: While the inhabitants of the Alps had practised transhumance for thousands of years, during the Late Middle Ages it became increasingly important as the population decreased following the Black Death and the wars of this era. Cattle production was much less manpower-intensive than farming, which was ideal with the reduced population.