Complex sentence: There was a slump in trade with the Baltic and France from 1689--91, caused by French protectionism and changes in the Scottish cattle trade, followed by four years of failed harvests (1695,1696 and 1698-9).
Split into simpler sentences: There was a slump in trade with the Baltic and France from 1689--91, caused by French protectionism and changes in the Scottish cattle trade. These were followed by four years of failed harvests (1695,1696 and 1698-9).