1 HOW FAR DID CHANGES IN AGRICULTURAL TECH AND INVEST IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY? Flashcards
What was a major change to the structure of rural life?
Enclosure
Enclosure was nothing new, but it… in the 17th century.
intensified
Enclosure involved consolidating… into… which would then be reserved for…
scattered holdings
blocks of land
the sole use of a single landowner (or tenant)
How did enclosure benefit crop production?
It ensured crop production wasn’t unnecessarily duplicated as fewer rivals would exist in each region.
Who protested against enclosure?
small landowners and those peasants who suffer if the common land was no longer accessible.
Why did the government do nothing to restrict enclosure despite protests?
these protests were small and it was difficult to deny that enclosure led to improved agricultural efficiency.
There were a number of counties where enclosure wasn’t… , such as… which were also very successful areas of…
widespread
Oxfordshire
agricultural innovation
Was enclosure something new?
been common in the medievel period to enclose common land in order to stimulate wool production but this shit increased in 17th century
There was a new awareness that, in order to run an efficient farm, … , reducing the number of… , and also that crops should be..
(Frming techniques)
as much land as possible should be utilised
fields left fallow
selected based on their suitability to different soil types.
Why was enclosure instrumental in allowing new techniques to be used, which led to improvements in crop rotation?
After enclosure, more fields were generally available for rotation, which led to better yields.
Give figures to show that the number of fields left fallow had reduced dramatically by the Stuart period.
In 1420, just over 7 million acres were given to arable farming with 3 million left fallow. This increased to 9 million acres in 1700, with 1.8 million left fallow.
Much of the work needed to improve irrigation and cultivate new crops was carried out by Dutch immigrants. Give an example of their importance in improving agriculture.
Cornelius Vermuyden was commissioned to drain the fens of East Anglia after being knighted by Charles I for similar work in Lincolnshire.
How did industry benefit from crop rotation?
Crops that aided industry benefited from crop rotation.
Give three examples of crops that aided industry that benefited from crop rotation.
flax for the manufacture of linen, hemp for rope-making and hops for brewing beer.
increased literacy rates mean?
after 1600 meant that more yeomen and husbandmen were able to make use of books.
what new crops
New nitrogen rich cops such as clover were also used to provide nutrients to soil
new crops were introduced to Britain in the 17th Century?
Artichokes, asparagus, and clover.
New techniques helped to increase the quality of food and amount = why was this essential?
essential in proviing enough food for growing urban population e.g london. + Meant there was enough fodder for animals.
How did miration from holland help improve farming techniques?
Helped with draining land
How did water meadows work?
By diverting water from a nearby stream or river to a field.
What was the aim of water meadows?
To provide soil that was always damp, thus reducing chances of frost in early spring and encouraging grass to grow earlier.
How did animal agriculture benefit from water meadows?
They ensured animals were well-fed throughout the next winter.
Figures on the number of water meadows are difficult to… , although contemporaries noted that their use…
come by
expanded dramatically in the 17th century
Water meadows enabled farmers to maintain more… , and breeds of sheep that produced… , could now be…
animals
wool
selected and intensively bred for the cloth industry.
With new agricultural techniques came a new appreciation for the fact that…
different regions could specialise in types of farming more suited to their local conditions.
