The Agricultural Revolution |
--The Agricultural Revolution took place during the 17th and 18th centuries in Europe.
--Peasants and artisans had about the same standard of living as in the Middle Ages. ***Most people battled hunger and lacked sufficient clothing and decent housing*** --Agriculture had changed little since the Middle Ages. ***80% of western Europe's population were famers*** ***Agricultural output was very low compared to modern standards. *** The Medieval open field system was predominant in Europe. --failed harvests occurred once or twice a decade, on average resulting in famines. --people were malnourished, making them more susceptible to disease. --Science was essentially a branch of theology and had no real application in agriculture. |
--18th century agricultural reformers wanted to improve agriculture.
--Agricultural changes during the 18th century were possible due to Enclosures. --The Agricultural reformer, Viscount Townshend, invented the Norfolk Rotation. --The two crops that Townshend supported the use of was turnips and clover. --Jethro Tull invented a seed drill. --Robert Bakewell became famous for selective breeding. --Bakewell hoped that by using selective breeding, he would get better wool and meat. |
A strict hierarchical system emerged:
--a few landowners (gentry) dominated the economy and politics --strong and prosperous tenant farmers rented land from the large landowners. --some small peasant farmers owned their own land --a huge number of peasants became wage earners on farms or in the cottage industry. Struggles between landowners and peasants occurred: --game laws were passed on behalf of landowners whereby any animals on owners' vast lands could not be hunted for food. --peasants who were without food would risk severe punishment if they were caught hunting for food on an owner's land. Enclosure did not spread significantly to western europe --France did not develop enclosure as national policy and after the 1760s peasants in the provinces strongly opposed enclosure. --Eastern Europe did not see fundamental agricultural changes until the 19th century. |