1. Rural Game

2. The year is 1450 and the location is Germany. The scene begins in a rural village. Life here in your village is similar to other villages across Europe in the 15 th century. Change traditionally comes very slowly. People generally moved at a much slower pace and had access to very little information outside their village. The vast majority of people lived in rural villages much like the one you will be constructing. Each village housed between 200 and 400 people. The tallest structure in the village was the Catholic Church, which was a major land owner in town and would rent out its farmlands to villagers in need.

3. Home life and work life were closely integrated as most work was done in nearby fields or in the home's adjoining workshop. The vast majority of peasants farmed for a living and did not own their own land. Serfdom was still in existence. The family was both an economic and a social unit. Every member worked from sun-up to sun-down. Even small children had chores. The homes of villagers were small with inadequate light and ventilation. All members of the family slept in the same room and sometimes even shared living quarters with livestock. Sons worked with fathers, daughters with mothers. Life expectancy was slightly over 40 years of age. It was common for women to die in childbirth so the average marriage lasted about 15 years. Step-parents were very common. One baby out of three died before their first birthday, only half of them made it to 21

4. Society was divided into social classes based primarily upon wealth. Most were poor farmers. A few were middle class, and they lived for the most part in large cities. A small few were nobles and usually owned large tracts of land in the countryside. The local nobility exercised great control over your village and actually owned all of the land. They rent out sections of it to your villagers to farm, but they are forced to pay rent for the land. Almost all political decisions are made by the Nobility and they had the final say in all matters in the town. Common farming was common during this time and there was even a large area in your town called the Commons on which anyone could farm or hunt. This was a way for peasants to survive when times were lean.

5. Marriages were always arranged by parents to maintain or better the economic status of the family. Not all could get married, however. From the fourteenth century until the nineteenth century Europe’s climate was cooler; this is called ‘The Little Ice Age.’ Due to this villagers began marrying later in life and having less children. A man had to own land on which to support a family before he could marry. It was not uncommon then, for men to wait until their 30's when they inherited land from their family, to wed. Women would usually wait until their early to mid-twenties and needed to have a dowry of some kind to find a suitable husband.

6. Villages were connected by a system of dirt roads that became almost impassable during the wet season. As a result, transportation was often slow and trade beyond your village was not easy. Most English farmers never visited any place further than 25 miles from their birthplace, ever. People made their own food, clothes, furniture, tools and homes. A few items which could not be produced, could be obtained from wandering peddlers who also brought with them news.

7. Draw a Catholic Church. When you draw your church include around it at least 25% of your land that is owned by the Catholic Church and add 4 farms on it. Draw one Noble’s House and around this include at least 25% of your land for their estate. Draw 2 roads for your village (one North – South, one East – West), a large Commons area, 10 houses, a cemetery, a store, a tavern, 10 farms, and a lot of trees all over your paper.

8. Round 1 Beginning in Italy in the mid 1400’s a new intellectual movement called the Renaissance begins. This movement celebrates new learning focused on individualism, secularism, and humanism. While most villagers do not participate in the Renaissance there is a growth of entertainment activities for peasants. Another development is the invention of the printing press. Created in Germany by Johannes Guttenberg these were usually located in big cities but your village is lucky enough to host one of these devices. Add a printing press in your village and a Town Square for celebrations.

9. Round 2 In 1517 the Protestant Reformation begins with Martin Luther’s 95 theses. Quickly thereafter the Reformation and a new religion, Lutheranism, spread. Your King has decided to join this new religion and that means that you will be forced to convert too. While this is troubling it is also good because now all of the land of the Catholic Church is available. Another development around this time period is the Age of Exploration. Because of new plants discovered during the Columbian Exchange the diet of your villagers has improved. While you are not quite yet at the population level prior to the Black Death, your village is nevertheless growing. Replace your Catholic Church with a Lutheran Church. Remove all of the farmland once owned by the Catholic Church and give half of it to your noble. Add five houses and five farms.

10. Round 3 The Protestant Reformation has brought much change to your village. Spurred on by the teaching of Lutheran ministers your town has joined a revolt against the Upper Class. This Peasant’s Revolt hopes to change social conditions, such as serfdom, just as the Reformation changed religious conditions. To that end, your town has destroyed your local nobility’s homes as part of this larger conflict and is preparing for war! Remove your Noble’s house and add a fort for defense.

11. Round 4 The Peasant’s Revolt experienced much success, at first. However, the Nobility responded with overwhelming force and utterly defeated this attempted revolution. Your town was especially hard hit by the fighting and many of your villagers were killed. Furthermore, when the Nobility returned they took even more land for themselves. Remove your fort, 3 houses, and 3 farms. Rebuild your Noble’s house twice as large and add more land to the Noble’s estate.

12. Round 5 A new agricultural technique has been developed. Some ingenious farmer realized that by allowing a field to lie fallow (to go unused) for a growing season, it would be much more productive the next time it was planted. The result is called a three crop rotation in which a field is only used once every three growing seasons. This greatly increases the amount of food in your village and helps your population grow. Another change is that wealth from colonies in the Americas and Asia has sparked new businesses in your village. Early forms of capitalism and a middle class are emerging. However this has also led to the Price Revolution in which your cost of living has increased and most of the resulting profit is enjoyed by the nobility. Add three times as many farms (36 total), 5 more houses, two stores, two nice houses, and a garden area to the Noble’s estate.

13. Round 6 In 1618 the 30 Years War begins. This is a catastrophic conflict which engulfs almost all of Europe for the next three decades. The fighting is particularly destructive in Germany as armies marauded back and forth with mercenaries viewing villages, such as yours, as easy targets. As a result there is massive death and a loss of wealth in your village. Remove 10 houses and 1 store.

14. Round 7 Following the 30 Years War Absolutism begins to grow. Hoping to restore order and eliminate the chaos of the Wars of Religion, Kings begin assuming more and more power. This impacts life in your village in a few ways. First, Kings gain this political power by giving the nobility more economic and social privileges. This means that the aristocracy has less power in the government but they have more money and more control over villages like yours. This all adds up to make serfdom even worse than before. Your individual liberties are curtailed more than they already were and you are forced to work harder but you profit even less. One positive side effect is that your King has implemented mercantilist policies such as infrastructure improvements. Specifically, roads are widened and improved and canals are built. Add a canal and widen your road. Remove half of your commons area and add that amount of land your Noble’s estate. Remove your Noble’s house and add a Noble’s palace.

15. Round 8 During the eighteenth century agriculture undergoes a revolution. The crop rotation system is abandoned as new crops such as alfalfa and turnips are introduced. These store nitrogen in their roots and therefore restore a field just as effectively as allowing it to lie fallow, while at the same time they improve your diet. Farmers also begin fertilizing their crops which increases their yield, again resulting in more food. Another improvement is the introduction of the potato. Long resisted for various reasons, potatoes were introduced to Germany by Frederick the Great and become widespread. Their relative ease and high yield means even more food is produced. A new invention called the seed drill is also invented which directly plants seeds in the ground instead of casting them randomly over a field. This reduces waste and results in more efficient fields. Lastly, new horticultural techniques are developed which means more farm animals and, once again, more food. All of this results in a population explosion.

16. Round 8 But these advances are distributed unevenly. Large-scale farms are introduced in which serfs work but do not own any of the land, crops, or animals. Instead the nobles have rented the land to middle class and merchant class individuals who are wealthier. The result is that smaller farms are reduced and the Commons is abolished. Remove 20 of your farms and the rest of your commons. Add 15 large farms to your village and 10 more houses.

17. Round 9 These agricultural changes combined with increased revenue from new businesses to lead some peasants away from farming. Instead they begin make products in the home and then sell them to local entrepreneurs (business owners). This became known as the Cottage Industry as most of these goods were made in peasant’s cottages. Primarily the Cottage Industry produced textiles and whole families could engage in this. Mothers and daughters would spin wool or cotton into fabrics while fathers and sons would work the looms. This reflects the growing middle and merchant classes which are growing in Europe at this time due to the Market Revolution. Though still in its early stages capitalism was an emerging part of the economy. Remove 5 farms. Add 5 cottages, 2 nice houses, 3 large farms and 8 houses.

18. Round 10 Throughout this time period two twin intellectual movements are taking place: The Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment. While many of these advances do not directly impact the life of your villagers, there are some noticeable differences. For one, the bubonic plague has been defeated once and for all. Secondly, a library and a coffee house have been established in your town. While most of your villagers cannot read, some can and are able to enjoy this new addition. The coffee house reflects the changes of Colonization but also a place for the middle and merchant class to enjoy leisure time. Add 3 cottages, 2 nice houses, 8 houses, a library, and a coffee house.

19. Round 11 The Agricultural Revolution and capitalism has had many effects. For one, your town is growing by leaps and bounds. The birth rate has remained relatively stable but life expectancy is increasing. The Market Revolution has had an even larger effect. The middle class is growing in your village and they want to spend their money on leisure items. New stores open with porcelain goods from China and mirrors. These are new to Europe and only the wealthy can afford such luxury. They also attend the new theater that has opened in your growing village. Add 2 cottages, 3 large farms, 3 nice houses, 6 houses, 3 stores, and a theater.

20. Round 12 With the growth of Capitalism the nobility want to gain even more power by taxing the newly rich. Your King gives in to their demands and allows them to increase taxes on everyone. Your population is still increasing despite these burdens, and so are leisure activities for the middle class. Add 2 cottages, 5 houses, a coffee house, and a sculpture to your Noble’s estate.

21. Review The year is now 1789. Your village has undergone massive changes.

22. Period 1 Describe life in village (II A, II C, IV A) Renaissance – Saint’s Day Festival (V A), Printing Press Reformation – Lutheran church and Peasants Revolt (III B, II D, III C, Age of Exploration – Columbian Exchange and price revolution (II B, III A) Price Revolution (add houses and more for Noble’s House) 30 Years War Growth of your city means more crime and more efforts by the Church to enforce laws (III B, V B, V C) Absolutism (II D) Period 2 Agricultural Revolution (2.2 IB, 2.4 IA) Market Revolution and Cottage Industry (aka ‘Putting-Out System’) (2.2 1 C&D) Scientific Revolution (2.4 IB) Consumer Revolution (2.4 II) Family and private life changes (2.4 III) Growth of cities (2.4 IV)