Agriculture In The Middle Ages

I. Agriculture In The Middle Ages

                1. During the period of time we just covered the Early Middle Ages the population of Europe was low, but between 1000-1300 the population doubled.

                2. Causes of population growth.

                                A. More peaceful time.

                                B. Increase in food production from changes in crop rotation practices.

                                C. More land used in general.

                                D. Improvements in technology.

                                                1. Iron works

                                                2. New heavy plow

                                                3. New Horse collars

                                                4. Horse shoes

                                                *Iron was expensive so villages worked up to purchased new tools to help to aid in the regrowth of farming villages.

                3. A major part of the Manorial system were people known as serfs. Serfs: peasants legally bound to the Land.

                4. Serfs were people that work the lords land (about half of the whole Manor).

                5. Serfs work under a feudal contract of their own meaning they and their lord each had certain responsibilities to each other.

                                A. Requirements of Serfs:

                                                1. Pay a share of every product made to the lord.

                                                2. Pay a fee for use of any other part of lords manor including things like tools.

                                                3. Could not marry out side of the Manor.

                                                4. Could not leave the Manor without permission.

                                B. Requirements of Lords

                                                1. Provide protection

                                                2. Could not re-take land for no reason.

II. Reason Life

                1. Lived very simple lives free of luxury.

                2. Life centered around the Cycle of Labor.

                                A. The cycle determined what the work the serfs were to do.

                                B. Cycle of Labor.

                                                1. Ran out October-September

                                C. Serfs had to perform all tasks necessary on both the lords land as well as their own.

                3. Serfs worked about 300 days a year taking days off to celebrate numerous religious holidays.

                4. Good was also simple.                    

                                A. Most simple was bread.

                                B. Also ate foods grown on the manor.

                                C. Ate meats usually at major feasts.

                                D. Most common drink was all made of grains produced on the manor.

III. The Rebirth of European Trade

                1. During the later Middle Ages trade began to gradually came bake to Europe after having almost stopped a few centuries before.

                2. Of the first trading centers was Venice, Italy.

                3. Another trading center was Flanders, Belgium.

                                1. Venice and Flanders traded with each other a lot.

                4. The increase in trade had other effects as well.

                                A. Traders began questioning for gold/silver coins in return for goods which led to the development of a new money economy.