Chapter 19 Part 1 The Agricultural Revolution

17 th and 18 th Centuries Peasants and artisans had the same standard of living as they had in the Middle Ages Peasants and artisans had the same standard of living as they had in the Middle Ages Most were hungry, lacked adequate housing and clothing Most were hungry, lacked adequate housing and clothing Little change in agricultural techniques since Middle Ages Little change in agricultural techniques since Middle Ages

Agriculture 17 th & 18 th Centuries 80% of population in Western Europe were farmers 80% of population in Western Europe were farmers Even higher percentage in Eastern Europe Even higher percentage in Eastern Europe The only exception: The Netherlands was more urban and mercantile than rural The only exception: The Netherlands was more urban and mercantile than rural

Agricultural output Was very low compared to modern standards Was very low compared to modern standards The “Open Field System” was most common method of farming The “Open Field System” was most common method of farming Failed harvests once or twice a decade Failed harvests once or twice a decade People were malnourished so more susceptible to disease People were malnourished so more susceptible to disease

Science Was a branch of theology Was a branch of theology Had no practical application to agriculture Had no practical application to agriculture …UNTIL AFTER THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION …UNTIL AFTER THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION

The Open Field System Common lands were open Common lands were open Strips of land for agriculture were not divided by fences or hedges Strips of land for agriculture were not divided by fences or hedges Open fields were farmed as a community Open fields were farmed as a community Little change from one generation to the next Little change from one generation to the next

The Open Field System Soil exhaustion was a common problem Soil exhaustion was a common problem 1/3 to ½ of lands were allowed to lie fallow so the soil could recover 1/3 to ½ of lands were allowed to lie fallow so the soil could recover Villages maintained open meadows for hay and pasture Villages maintained open meadows for hay and pasture

The Peasant Farmer Peasants were taxed heavily Peasants were taxed heavily Serfs in Eastern Europe far worse off than in the West Serfs in Eastern Europe far worse off than in the West In the 18 th Century: The Dutch, the English, and the French became leaders in the increased agriculture and trade that resulted from the population growth In the 18 th Century: The Dutch, the English, and the French became leaders in the increased agriculture and trade that resulted from the population growth

The Agricultural Revolution Involved: Increased Crop Production Increased Crop Production Increased agricultural and animal production could feed more people Increased agricultural and animal production could feed more people New Methods of Cultivation New Methods of Cultivation Crops were grown on wastelands and previously uncultivated common lands Crops were grown on wastelands and previously uncultivated common lands Selective Breeding of Livestock Selective Breeding of Livestock Led to better cultivation (fertilizer) and healthier animals Led to better cultivation (fertilizer) and healthier animals

Science and technology was applied to agriculture The Netherlands led the way The Netherlands led the way Increased population (especially urban growth) made improvements a necessity Increased population (especially urban growth) made improvements a necessity Regional specialization: Regional specialization: Certain areas for farming Certain areas for farming Certain areas for fishing and shipping Certain areas for fishing and shipping Towns and cities for commerce and banking Towns and cities for commerce and banking

By mid-17 th Century The Dutch had: The Dutch had: Enclosed fields Enclosed fields Rotated Crops Rotated Crops Employed heavy use of manure for fertilizer Employed heavy use of manure for fertilizer Planted a wide variety of crops Planted a wide variety of crops Free and capitalistic society = incentives for farmers to be productive Free and capitalistic society = incentives for farmers to be productive

The Dutch Drainage: Much of Holland was marshland covered by ocean waters Drainage: Much of Holland was marshland covered by ocean waters The Dutch became world leaders in reclaiming wetlands through drainage The Dutch became world leaders in reclaiming wetlands through drainage Cornelius Vermuyden was the most famous of the Dutch engineers in drainage techniques Cornelius Vermuyden was the most famous of the Dutch engineers in drainage techniques The English will do the same in southern marshlands The English will do the same in southern marshlands

England Charles Townsend (aka Charles “Turnip” Townsend): Was the English ambassador to the Netherlands Charles Townsend (aka Charles “Turnip” Townsend): Was the English ambassador to the Netherlands He brought Dutch innovations home to England: He brought Dutch innovations home to England: Use nitrogen-rich crops (like turnips) to replenish soil so fallowing was not necessary Use nitrogen-rich crops (like turnips) to replenish soil so fallowing was not necessary Drained marshlands in S. England Drained marshlands in S. England Crop rotation Crop rotation Soil-replenishing crops used to feed livestock Soil-replenishing crops used to feed livestock

England Use of manure for fertilizer Use of manure for fertilizer Increased #’s of livestock (and additional crops for livestock) meant that all animals did not need to be slaughtered en masse prior to winter….Enough food to keep them alive through the cold months Increased #’s of livestock (and additional crops for livestock) meant that all animals did not need to be slaughtered en masse prior to winter….Enough food to keep them alive through the cold months Now more fresh meat available (less salting needed) Now more fresh meat available (less salting needed) By 1740 many English aristocrats into new techniques By 1740 many English aristocrats into new techniques

Jethro Tull Developed the Seed Drill Crops were sown in straight lines instead of scattered by hand Developed the Seed Drill Crops were sown in straight lines instead of scattered by hand One of the best examples of how the empiricism of the scientific revolution was applied to agriculture One of the best examples of how the empiricism of the scientific revolution was applied to agriculture

Horses Were used for plowing Were used for plowing Replaced the use of oxen Replaced the use of oxen Horses much faster Horses much faster The holdup was the development of a harness that would not choke the horses The holdup was the development of a harness that would not choke the horses

Robert Bakewell Pioneered the selective breeding of livestock Pioneered the selective breeding of livestock Larger and healthier animals were the result Larger and healthier animals were the result Also, increased the availability of meat, wool, leather, soap, and candle tallow Also, increased the availability of meat, wool, leather, soap, and candle tallow More manure was available for fertilizing More manure was available for fertilizing

New Foods From the Columbian Exchange: From the Columbian Exchange: = diversity in diets = diversity in diets Most Important: Potatoes and corn Most Important: Potatoes and corn Both easy to grow and highly nutritious Both easy to grow and highly nutritious

The Enclosure Movement in England Remember the earlier Enclosure Movement in England (16 th century) Remember the earlier Enclosure Movement in England (16 th century) Landlords fenced in their lands and raised sheep for wool instead of producing food. Landlords fenced in their lands and raised sheep for wool instead of producing food. Resulted in hardship for landless farmers who were thrown off of the land Resulted in hardship for landless farmers who were thrown off of the land Resulted in higher food prices Resulted in higher food prices

The Enclosure Movement of the 18 th Century This enclosure movement was based on agriculture This enclosure movement was based on agriculture Landlords consolidated their scattered holdings into compact fields that were fenced Landlords consolidated their scattered holdings into compact fields that were fenced Common pasture lands were also enclosed Common pasture lands were also enclosed Ended the open field system Ended the open field system

The Enclosure Movement of the 18 th Century Resulted in the commercialization of agriculture Resulted in the commercialization of agriculture Large Landowners invested in technology (machinery and new techniques and methods) Large Landowners invested in technology (machinery and new techniques and methods) This also increased the # of large and middle- sized farms This also increased the # of large and middle- sized farms

Parliament Passed over 3,000 Enclosure Acts in the late 18 th and early 19 th centuries that benefitted the large landowners Passed over 3,000 Enclosure Acts in the late 18 th and early 19 th centuries that benefitted the large landowners The Corn Laws (1816): High tariffs placed on foreign grain The Corn Laws (1816): High tariffs placed on foreign grain Drove up the price of grain in England Drove up the price of grain in England

The Corn Laws The Poor could not afford to buy grain or bread The Poor could not afford to buy grain or bread Probably the most notorious example of a law that benefitted the wealthy at the expense of the English peasantry Probably the most notorious example of a law that benefitted the wealthy at the expense of the English peasantry

The Impact of the Enclosure Movement on the Peasants Many peasants were forced off lands that had once been common Many peasants were forced off lands that had once been common Many had to move to towns or cities in search of work Many had to move to towns or cities in search of work Many found work in early factories or poorhouses Many found work in early factories or poorhouses

The Impact of the Enclosure movement on the poor Many became even more impoverished Many became even more impoverished Some survived by pursuing opportunities in cottage industries Some survived by pursuing opportunities in cottage industries Women had no way to raise farm animals on common lands for extra money Women had no way to raise farm animals on common lands for extra money

Women Were forced off of the land just like men Were forced off of the land just like men Traditionally, women also farmed, raised animals, and supervised household functions Traditionally, women also farmed, raised animals, and supervised household functions Economic opportunities decreased HUGELY for women as a result of the enclosure movement Economic opportunities decreased HUGELY for women as a result of the enclosure movement

Women Many families with daughters were anxious to get them out of the house…one more mouth to feed Many families with daughters were anxious to get them out of the house…one more mouth to feed Young women increasingly went to towns or cities looking for domestic work (limited) Young women increasingly went to towns or cities looking for domestic work (limited) Many had to turn to prostitution…few other options Many had to turn to prostitution…few other options

Families Who remained in the countryside often supplemented their income through the cottage industries Who remained in the countryside often supplemented their income through the cottage industries Was sometimes called “putting out work” Was sometimes called “putting out work” Most common: spinning or weaving Most common: spinning or weaving Weaver: head of household, Women spun Weaver: head of household, Women spun Sometimes needed more spinners…spinsters Sometimes needed more spinners…spinsters

A New Social Hierarchy The Gentry: the large landowners dominated the economy and politics The Gentry: the large landowners dominated the economy and politics Strong and prosperous tenant farmers who rented land from the large landowners Strong and prosperous tenant farmers who rented land from the large landowners Some peasants owned their own small plots of land Some peasants owned their own small plots of land A huge number of peasants became wage earners on farms or in cottage industries A huge number of peasants became wage earners on farms or in cottage industries

Peasants v Landowners Game laws were passed preventing peasants from hunting on large landowners’ lands Game laws were passed preventing peasants from hunting on large landowners’ lands Severe punishments for peasants caught hunting on another’s property Severe punishments for peasants caught hunting on another’s property

Traditionally… Historians believed that the enclosure movement pushed thousands of peasants out of the countryside or resulted in abject poverty for those who remained Historians believed that the enclosure movement pushed thousands of peasants out of the countryside or resulted in abject poverty for those who remained This is what Karl Marx believed This is what Karl Marx believed

More recently Historians now believe that the negative results of the enclosure movement were exaggerated Historians now believe that the negative results of the enclosure movement were exaggerated Many remained in the countryside working as prosperous tenant farmers, small landowners and wage earners Many remained in the countryside working as prosperous tenant farmers, small landowners and wage earners

By % of England’s farmland was enclosed 50% of England’s farmland was enclosed 1700: 2 landless laborers for every one self- sufficient farmer Little change in : 2 landless laborers for every one self- sufficient farmer Little change in 1750 By late 17 th and early 18 th centuries all classes embraced the idea of enclosure in England By late 17 th and early 18 th centuries all classes embraced the idea of enclosure in England

Enclosure Did not spread to the rest of Europe to any noteworthy degree or very quickly Did not spread to the rest of Europe to any noteworthy degree or very quickly France: Enclosure was not national policy until 1760’s…even then, not widespread France: Enclosure was not national policy until 1760’s…even then, not widespread Peasants in the provinces did not support it Peasants in the provinces did not support it

Eastern Europe No fundamental change in agriculture until the 19 th Century No fundamental change in agriculture until the 19 th Century

The Impact of the Agricultural Revolution Led to Europe’s population explosion in the 18 th century Led to Europe’s population explosion in the 18 th century Altered society in the countryside Altered society in the countryside Common lands were enclosed Common lands were enclosed Huge migration to cities Huge migration to cities The emergence of the cottage industry The emergence of the cottage industry Lower food prices meant that folks were free to buy other consumer goods Lower food prices meant that folks were free to buy other consumer goods