1. Notes #1: The Agricultural Revolution

3. 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 Oats Barley Fallow

5. There were advantages and disadvantages to this system. Advantages: 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. Innovative Dutch & English farmers help create the Agricultural Revolution. The introduction of fertilizer to renew soil Use of soil mixing resulted in higher crop yields Crop rotation to produce larger crops & restore overused soil Jethro Tull develops the seed drill Farmers develop journals to educate others

7. Seed Drill Almanac

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

9. The Enclosure Movement involved the taking over of small tracts of land to create larger fields. Results of the enclosure movement: – Increased production & profits – Fewer workers needed – farmers lose jobs & land – Large land owners controlled more land & became richer. – Farmers begin to migrate to the cities

10. Improved farm production lead to a 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 development of New Technology spurred on 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

12. Iron and Coal

13. Steam Engine

14. Transportation