Agriculture and the Land Open-Field System Agricultural Revolution Leadership of the Low Countries and England The Cost of Enclosure

Open-Field System Cut field into long narrow strips. Fortunate individual peasant families could own a few strips scattered throughout the large field. Peasants farmed the field as a community following the same patterns of plowing, sowing and harvesting. Soil exhaustion was common due to lack of fertilizer.

Open-Field System Three year rotations were introduced to give the exhausted soil time to recover. Villages maintained open meadows for hay and natural pastures. In Eastern Europe, the peasants were still bound to their lords in hereditary service. Privileges of Europe’s rulers weighed heavily on the people of the land.

Agricultural Revolution Radical mass action became a way for peasants to improve their status. Technological progress also presented opportunities. Nitrogen-storing crops such as: peas, beans, turnips, potatoes, clovers and grasses were discovered to have the power to replenish the fallow land.

Agricultural Revolution Continual experimentation led to more scientific farming. This meant cattle and sheep were being fed more, making them larger and allowing for a greater breeding capacity. More manure was now available to be used a fertilizer for the crops, giving the peasants a better existence. These new methods were very slowly accepted.

The Leadership of the Low Countries and England Low Countries- Low countries had advanced agricultural systems. They had advanced drainage and larger livestock Overpopulation=> a need for a good agricultural system. Amsterdam grew from 30,000 to 200,000.

The Leadership of the Low Countries and England England- Cornelius Vermuyden, directed large drainage projects in England. Charles Townsend discovered clovers and turnips, that could grow in sandy soil. Jethro Tull, invented drills that could plant seeds, and cross breeding. 300% more food in 1700 with only a slight worker increase.

The Cost of Enclosure Wealthy landowners split up, and enclosed property Landless peasants could no longer farm common land. 1700’s a majority of peasants were either landless, rented land, or had small plots of land. Landlords sponsored advanced farming techniques.

The Cost of Enclosure Tenants were the first to use drainage systems and machines. By 1815 English and Scottish lords owned most of the land. Landless peasants worked on other people’s farms. Proletarianization-peasants became rural wage workers.

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