Economy, trade and empire, 1625-88 Flashcards
Why was Britain’s economy remarkably strong in 1688?
The growth of trade - Edward Lloyd - shipping news/ discussion of insurance deals.
What other reasons contributed to the growth of Britain’s economy?
Increased investment in agriculture.
Improved trading conditions, especially after 1650.
What was a market garden?
A specialist producer of fruits and vegetables for sale.
How can changes in agricultural techniques be linked to the rise in population growth?
Increased production resulted in greater efficiency, with more people becoming involved.
What was enclosure?
The legal process in England of consolidating (enclosing) small landholdings into larger farms. Once enclosed, use of the land became restricted to the owner.
What was enclosure designed to ensure?
Crop production was not duplicated.
Why were peasants inclined to accept enclosure by 1650?
Subsidence farming was no longer viable.
What were enclosure agreements?
Informal affairs, with a loose agreement made between landowners, tenants and families.
What were the advantages of enclosure?
Improved agricultural techniques. Greater efficiency, marked by increased production.
More fields were available for rotation, leading to better yields.
More efficient crop rotation meant that new crops could be introduced and more experimentation could take place.
What were the disadvantages of enclosure?
Peasants were denied access to common land. An example of the impact can be seen at Sherrington in Buckinghamshire, where modest freeholders, who had gradually been gaining land since the 16th century, were driven out because of indebtedness after 1600 as a result of enclosure.
There was a number of counties where enclosure was not widespread.
Why was the year 1600 significant in terms of agricultural improvement?
Increased literacy levels.
Greater forms of efficiency in the number of fields and the selection of crops depending on the soil type.
What does crop rotation refer to?
One field in three would be left for pasture in any given year, in order for nutrients to be restored to the soil. This led to lower than the desired yield. After enclosure, more fields could be rotated, leading to better yields.
What was the aim of a water meadow?
Provide soil that was damp - thus reducing the chances of frost in early spring/ encouraging grass to grow.
What happened as a result of the expansion of water meadows?
Growth in the number of working and non-working animals.
How many horses were used on farms in 1700?
Around 630,000 horses were used on farms in 1700, compared to 300,000 a hundred years before.
