In the early middle ages, Europe had a relatively small population. Beginning in about 1000 AD, this slowly began to change. In fact in from the period of 1100 – 1300 Europe would increase its population almost double. From 38 million people to 74 million people. This was largely due to 2 things: a.) New developments in Agriculture b.) A new social climate started in the Crusades wherein knights were not fighting in Europe, but were in the middle east. This meant local stability, and also due to the deaths occurring in the latter Crusades, a need for an increase in man power if possible.

Food production from around 1100 to 1300 AD, increased due to new farming techniques and a general increase in global temperature from what had been the norm from the time of the Viking invasions of Europe. By 1200 Europe had more land under cultivation for food production than it does today. Changes in technology also aided the development of farming. The middle ages witnessed the rebirth and expansion of labor saving devices such as harnessing wind and water power. Also Europeans invented the Iron plow instead of the wood or bronze plows and this allowed later middle age farmers to till heavier clay filled soils.

The most important innovation in the mid to late medieval era was known as the “3 field system”. The 3 field system – is a system for rotating crops between fields to ensure a continuous supply of food year round. The 3 field system works as follows: You have three fields that are labeled A, B, C. Field “A” is planted with Rye, wheat or other grain in the fall of the year and is harvested in the Summer. Field “B” would be planted in the Spring with oats and veggies like peas and beans that would be harvested in the fall. Field “C” would be allowed to remain fallow or unused until after field “B” had been harvested. It would then take the place of Field “A” on a biannual cycle. By allowing 1 field to remain fallow or unused for part of a growing season the peasantry of Europe insured that the ground would not become totally unusable for food production due to loss of mineral content.

We have previously discussed that the creation of the “feudal system” created a system wherein lords and vassals had a interdependent relationship. In the mid to late Middle Ages a new system of interaction between Lord and Vassal arose; called the “Manorial System”.

The Manor became a landed estate that was run by a lord, usually a knight and which peasants worked. From 1000 AD to around 1200 AD peasants generally interacted with their lords as we have previously learned. Beginning in 1200 AD peasants changed in their social status and became known as serfs. A serf is a peasant who is tied to the land that he works. Serfs were permanently tied to the land that they worked and could be “sold” or traded if the land changed hands between lords. In addition the invention of “rent” came to be used by lords to ensure that serfs who worked their lands would be allowed to continue to live in their houses, have the “honor” of growing their own food in addition to their lords food, and also for providing services such is military service in addition to everything that we have previously learned they were responsible for.