The Agricultural Revolution and the Start of the Industrial Revolution

What’s wrong with this field?

Disadvantages of the old system Field left fallow People have to walk over your strips to reach theirs No proper drainage Animals can trample crops and spread disease Difficult to take advantage of new farming techniques Because land in different fields takes time to get to each field No hedges or fences

Agricultural Revolution Medieval Farming Medieval Farming Crop rotation Crop rotation In medieval times peasant farmers used a 3-field system. Field One: Wheat/Rye Field Two: Barley/Oats Field Three: Empty an inefficient system that barely produced enough Peasants relied on gleanings or leftover grain for food Starting in the 1600’s farmers used the 3 rd field to grow new crops (turnips/clover)

Crop Rotation new crops Increased food for animals Nourished the soil More animals meant more fertilizer more food

Agricultural Revolution Enclosures Enclosures Large landowners began buying up (or just taking) smaller land holdings broke up large unfenced common areas into smaller fenced-in plots. Once the land was enclosed the owner could farm any way he liked. Introduced new farming techniques Drastically increased production Many peasants were left without land They headed to the cities to look for work

Agricultural Revolution Selective Breeding Selective Breeding Seed Drill Seed Drill only allowed the fittest and strongest of their cattle, sheep, pigs and horses to mate. Led to bigger or stronger animals Horse drawn device Planted evenly spaced seeds at a consistent depth then covered them with soil. Allowed the soil to absorb more air and water

Seed Drill invented by this Jethro Tull Not this Jethro Tull

Agricultural Revolution Results Results the better off farmers and landowners gained the most People who had no written proof of ownership lost their land altogether. others couldn’t afford to pay for fences and had to sell their land. These people either became laborers or headed for the towns and cities.

Revolution leads to Revolution Revolution leads to Revolution Industrial Revolution Industrial Revolution The Agricultural Revolution led to a huge Population Shift in Europe. This shift contributed to the start of the Industrial Revolution. The I.R. took place during the 1700’s in Europe and was a time of major improvements in industry and manufacturing.

Quick Write 27 The agricultural revolution leads to two major changes in England: An increasing population People moving from the country to towns and cities What are some effects these two changes could have on European societies? What effect does an increasing population have on our world today?