1. 18th Century Economy

2. Agricultural Revolution
State of agriculture in 1700’s
Peasants and artisans had about the same standard of living as in the Middle Ages
Battled hunger and lacked clothing and housing
Agriculture had changed little since Middle Ages
80% of western Europeans were farmers
Agricultural output was very low
Open field system
Failed harvest (famines)
Malnourished

3. Open Field System
Common lands were open and strips of land for agriculture were not divided by fences or hedges
Open fields were farmed by community
Exhaustion of soil
Agriculture in villages changed little over time

4. Leaders
In the 18th century, England, the Netherlands, and France became leaders for increased agriculture, industry and trade that resulted in population growth

5. Features Increased production of food New methods of cultivation
Increased crop and animal yields could feed more people
New methods of cultivation
Crops were grown on wastelands and uncultivated common lands
Selective breeding of livestock
Led to better cultivation as a result of healthier animals

6. Science and Technology
Low Countries led the way
Increased population meant that finding new methods of agricultural become paramount
The Dutch enclosed fields, rotated crops, employed heavy use of manure for fertilizer and planted wide variety of crops
Use of drainage to reclaim wetlands from flooding

7. England
By 1870, crop yields had tripled since 1700 with only 14% increase in people working the land
Charles Townsend pioneered crop rotation
He studied Dutch techniques, use of certain crops to replenish soil

8. Livestock
Increased food for livestock meant mass slaughter of animals was no longer needed prior to winter
Animal feed year round sustained livestock
People ate more fresh meat through salting

9. Jethro Tull
Good example of how the empiricism of the scientific revolution was applied to agriculture
His seed drill allowed for sowing of crops in a straight row rather than scattering it by hand
Used horses for plowing rather than slower oxen

10. Robert Bakewell 1725-1795 Pioneered selective breeding of livestock
Larger and healthier animals were developed
Resulted in increased availability of meat, wool, leather, soap
More manure became available for fertilizing

11. Columbian Exchange New foods from the New World became available
Potatoes and corn were among the most important: highly nutritious and relatively easy to grow

12. The Columbian Exchange
From the New World to Europe
From Europe to the New World
Disease
Syphilis
Plants
Potatoes, Corn, Tomatoes, Pineapples, Tobacco, Beans, Vanilla, Chocolate
Animals
Turkeys
Gold and Silver
Disease
Small pox, Measles, Bubonic, Plague, Influenza
Plants
Wheat, Sugar, Rice, Coffee
Animals
Horses, Cows, Pigs, Sheep, Goats, Chickens

13. Enclosure Movement
Landowners sought to increase profits from wool production by enclosing fields for raising sheep
Differed from 18th century enclosure that was based largely on agriculture
End to the open field system
Resulted in the commercialization of agriculture

14. Enclosure's Impact
Many were forced off lands that had once been common
Many moved to towns or cities looking for work since work was less available in the countryside
In some cases, enclosure freed men to pursue other economic opportunities, such as the cottage industry

15. Hierarchical System
A few landowners (gentry) dominated the economy and politics
Strong and prosperous tenant farmers rented land form the large landowners
Some small peasants farmers owned their own land
A huge number of peasants became wage earners on farms or in the cottage industry

16. Impact of the Agricultural Revolution
Led to Europe’s population explosion in the 18th century
Altered society in the countryside
Common lands closed
The cottage industry emerged
Increased food supply of food resulted in lower food prices

17. Population Explosion

18. Limits Famine, disease, and warfare kept population growth in check
Not until mid-16th century did Europe’s population reach pre-Black Death levels in early 1300’s

19. Causes of Population Explosion
Agricultural Rev. led to more food
New foods from New World
Improved food transportation
Better diets
Disappearance of bubonic plague
Improved sanitation

20. Cottage Industry

21. Work from home
Raw materials were provided to rural families who produced semi-finished or finished product back to merchants
Wool cloth was the most important product
Family enterprise
Thousands of poor rural families were able to make an income

22. Mercantilism

23. Characteristics Main goal: economic self-sufficiency
A country or empire sought to create a favorable balance of trade by exporting more than it imported
Bullionism
Colonies were acquired to provide raw materials
States granted monopolies

24. Triangular Trade
Revolved around the West Indies in the Caribbean and included North America and Africa

25. Slave Trade

26. Atlantic Trade
Dramatic growth in the Atlantic trade was due in large part to the use of slave labor
About 10 million Africans were transported to the New World
50% aboard British ships
25% aboard French ships
25% aboard Dutch, Portuguese, Danish, American

27. Slaves
Most slaves were actually captured by rival African tribes who traded slaves for European goods such as cloth, alcohol, and weapons
Between 20-33% died en route to New World “Middle Passage”

28. Life in the 18th Century

29. Marriage and Family After 1750
More income meant people married for love, not economic reasons
People did not have to wait long to become independent

30. Child Rearing
Children were often treated indifferently and with strict physical discipline
“Spare the rod and spoil the child”
Daniel Defoe
Many children worked in factories, injured

31. Education
Beginning of formal education for the masses, largely inspired by Protestantism
“Little Schools” appeared
Literacy by 1800
90% of Scottish males
66% of French males
50% of British males
Women were increasingly literate but lagged behind men in general

32. Life Expectancy
The life spans of European increased from 25 to 35 years in the 18th century
Increase in public health techniques
Sanitation
Vaccination
Better clothing
Warm dry housing
Adequate food

33. Medical Improvements
Conquest of the smallpox was greatest medical triumph of the 18th century
Edward Jenner
Created foundation for the science of immunology with his vaccine of smallpox