Final answer:
The pressures on the natural environment were reduced in the early Middle Ages due to a decrease in population and a shift to smaller-scale farming.
Step-by-step explanation:
The pressures on the natural environment were reduced in the early Middle Ages due to several factors. One of the main reasons was the decrease in the population of Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire and the subsequent decline in economic activity. With fewer people, there was less demand for resources and less land was needed for agriculture, resulting in less deforestation and habitat destruction. Additionally, during this time, there was a shift from large-scale agriculture to smaller-scale subsistence farming, which also had a less significant impact on the environment.