Week 1 Flashcards
Agricultural Revolution
What factors cause the Agricultural Revolution?
Spread of scientific knowledge, Jethro Tull Seed drill, Rotherham Plough, Four - crop rotation system, need for faster production, growth to larger farming units, better cereal cultivation (wheat, barley etc.), enclosure & selective breeding.
What was the open-field system?
Open fields of land were divided into strips and worked on by most of the villagers.
What was the structure of pre-industrial society?
Simple, fewer statuses and roles, monarchy and aristocracy owned the land, no rights of ownership over land for peasants and lower classes, absence or primitive level of schools etc., peasants under pressure from land owners, peasants under threat of starvation, rising prices & greater demand for goods.
What were the changes to agriculture?
Population growth boosted the demand for food, high prices due to war-time inflation encouraged investment & enclosure.
What was enclosure and how did it improve agriculture?
Open fields were enclosed and peasants were denied access. Farmers could chooses what to do with their land, caused the other improvments.
What was improved soil fertility and how did it improve agriculture?
Making greater use of fertilisers e.g. lime which increased nitrogen levels. Now, animals could be fed over winter, and land which was previously considered unprofitable could now be used. Greater awareness of what types of soil grew certain crops.
What was crop rotation and how did it improve agriculture?
A system where land was planted with wheat, barley, clover and turnips. Created by Charles ‘Turnip’ Townsend. Now, significantly more land could be used.
What was selective livestock breeding and how did it improve agriculture?
Created by Robert Bakewell. Farmers ensured that only certain animals were bred in order to produce the best milk and meat. This also lessened the risk of diseases spreading.
What was cereal cultivation and how did it improve agriculture?
Specialisation - growing the right crops in the right soil etc. fertilisers. Increases the output per acre
What was the spread of scientific knowledge and how did it improve agriculture?
Writers such as Arthur Young, William Marshall and Thomas Coke made sure that farmers were aware of certain practices e.g. drainage, crop rotation
Why was the Agricultural Revolution important?
A growing population could be fed, supply ensured that there were no food shortages = stable society, workers provided a market for goods that would be produced in towns, landowners made considerable profits which were often invested. Agriculture was both a supplier (e.g providing wool to the textile industry) and a customer (agricultural labourers bought the new products).
