Agricultural and Military Revolutions in Europe Flashcards
Describe Medieval Europe.
A series of interlocked technical innovations that shaped the history of medieval Europe like:
Agricultural Revolution
New Military technologies
Dependence on wind and water for the generation of power
What happened after the 9th century?
Europe transformed itself from an economy scarcely more advanced than that of traditional neolithic societies to a vibrant and unique civilization that came to lead the world in the development of science and industry. Major factor of this was growth in population
What was the Agricultural Revolution of the Middle Ages a response to?
Population increase and land shortage, challenge in to produce more in smaller areas
What was land used for in Medieval Europe land?
agriculture and food production
pasture dairy animals for food, cattle and horses for traction, and sheep for wool
expanding cities reduce the acreage available for agricultural production
forest provided timber for construction, shipbuilding, and both heating and industrial fuel
wood was used as fuel for iron making
What happened in 800?
Charlemagne was crowned emperor of Rome and established the Carolingian Empire
Even though water and irrigation was not a problem, the heavy soils were difficult to plow
What was the first innovation for soil plowing?
The Heavy Plow pulled by multiple ox/cows and then eventually horses
What was applied to light soils?
Mediterranean scratch plow
What was the traction problem and how was it solved?
The second innovation
Traditional neck harness on ox transfer power by pushing from top of neck. Horse collars were adapted from Chinese that transferred the pressure points from the windpipe to the shoulders ad increased traction by 4-5 hold
What was the third innovation for soil plowing?
Development of the three-field rotation system
What were social consequences of soil plowing?
deep plow made it possible to farm new lands
northward shift of European agriculture
expensive for heavy plows and horses
development of collective ownership and patterns of communal agriculture and communal animal husbandry
solidifying the medieval village and the manorial system as the bedrock of European society
What were the social consequences of the three-field rotation system?
Spring crop of vegetables and oats improved diets increased productive capabilities from 33-50% more food, more meat, more surplus population increases
By 1300, what happened to population?
trebled to 79 million from 26 million in 600
Paris increased population by more than 10 times
Describe the first Military Revolution?
Technological innovation in military affairs
role of military in European feudalism
military revolution and Europe’s eventual global dominate
What was a major innovation in the Military Revolution?
Stirrups
Allowed foot fighters to fight on horse with stability
How did the Military Revolution shift power?
from local feudal authorities to centralized kingdoms
