1. The Prosperous Age
GHAUG

2. Prosperous Age 1500 the economy of Europe thriving
Population began to rise b/c of improvements in agriculture ( farming )
Fewer farmers could feed more people
Agriculture was backbone of the economy
People depended on the land for raw materials such as
hides for shoes
Wool for cloth
Grapes for wine and beer

3. Changes to Agriculture
Workers were no longer tied to their lord’s manor as serfs ( as in feudal times )
Serf = a person attached to a lord’s land and required to give services to the land
Many serfs became tenant farmers
Tenant farmers = a person who pays rent for the use of the land to a landlord
Others moved to towns and cities = increasing the growth of these cities and towns
Rural to urban
Rural = country
Urban = city

4. Changes Cont’d Strip farming not effective
Farmers now started to concentrate in growing more of the crops they had success with
Started to improve the soil
Drainage ditches
Crop rotation

5. Trade and Economy Dramatic increase in trade
Trade = began to link different parts of the world
New pattern: Europeans started to build permanent settlements in other parts of the world …ex..the Spanish and the Portuguese
European powers started to establish empires
Empires: a group of states or territories controlled by one country
Growth of trade = encouraged the growth of the middle class

6. Middle Class Composed of landowners and merchants
Had more opportunities to expand with the increase in trade
Disrupted the old social structure of lords and serfs