1. THE AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION

2. Peasants in the Middle Ages used communal farming
Farmers used this system for hundreds of years
It involved subsistence farming - meaning farmers grew enough to feed themselves
They used a three field-system (2 planted; 1 left fallow or empty)

4. Three-Field System
Barley
Oats
Fallow

5. Advantages and disadvantages to this communal system
People worked together
No one was given an unfair advantage
Created a sense of community
Disadvantages:
Did not encourage experimental farming
Inefficient crop production

6. Dutch & English farmers help create the Agricultural Revolution by introducing the following changes:
Fertilizer is used to renew soil
The use of soil mixing resulted in higher crop yields
Crop rotation produced larger crops & restored overused soil
Jethro Tull developed the seed drill (helped to eliminate seed waste)
Horse Collar
Farmers develop journals to educate others

7. Seed Drill
Almanac
Horse Collar

8. Crop Rotation Field 2 Field 1 Oats Barley Manor House Field 4 Field 3
Turnips
Field 3
Clover

9. The changes in farming resulted in factors that contributed to the Industrial Revolution
The Enclosure Movement
This involved nobles taking over the smaller tracts of land to create larger fields.
Results:
Increased production & profits
Large land owners controlled more land & became richer
Fewer workers needed – farmers lose jobs & land
Farmers become labor supply for the Industrial Revolution

10. The changes in farming resulted in factors that contributed to the Industrial Revolution
2. Population explosion
Immediate reasons:
better food production,
reduced famine & people eating better and healthier
Long term reasons:
better hygiene and sanitation
improved medical care
lower death rate

11. The changes in farming resulted in factors that contributed to the Industrial Revolution
3. The population explosion increases demand for manufactured goods
More people meant an increased demand for more shirts, more shoes, more pants, and etc.
This demand created opportunities to make a lot of money supplying these goods

12. New technology encouraged the Industrial Revolution
New sources of energy:
Coal
Watermills
Windmills
James Watt & the development of the steam engine
Improved iron was used in machines, steam engines & railroads