But those advancements were not used to improve quality of life substantially. Only with the dramatic decrease in population due to the black death did it becom

But those advancements were not used to improve quality of life substantially. Only with the dramatic decrease in population due to the black death did it become necessary to improve the output of the remaining workers. New tools became widespread, previously idle lands were improved, the population began consistently rising for the first time in 1000 years (a trend which has continued to today), and per capita GDP likewise began to rise above subsistence.