Final answer:
Advancements in scientific knowledge, public health measures, and the innovations brought by the Industrial Revolution like efficient agricultural machines and improved transportation led to a decline in mortality rates and population growth in 18th-century Europe.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cause for the drop in mortality rates in Europe during the eighteenth century can be primarily attributed to several advances in science and technology. Firstly, the proliferation of new scientific knowledge around the causes of disease led to improvements in public health measures, such as enhanced water supplies, sewers, and personal hygiene. The Industrial Revolution also played a crucial role by providing new sources of energy, like coal and electricity, which improved the efficiency of agricultural machines and transportation systems such as trains, thereby optimizing the distribution of food and enhancing the availability of nutrition. These advancements, combined with better living and working conditions, contributed to a significant decrease in death rates and sparked an exponential growth in population size.