1. High Middle Ages 1000-1300CE Chapter 8.4
Agricultural Revolution
&
Commercial Revolution

2. New Technologies
Iron Plough
Horse harness instead of oxen harness

3. New Technologies Cont. Windmill: grinding flour
Three-field system: grain, legumes & unplanted

5. Result of Agricultural Revolution
Outcome: Increased food production led to an increase in population. Population doubled between CE.

6. The Need for Products
The WEALTHY & growing population needed goods not available on the manor.
Trade was mostly REGIONAL but some contact with Middle East, India, & China.

7. Products of Trade Imported: Spices, groceries, linen
Egyptian paper, pearls, perfumes
Exported:
precious metals in bars
iron, wines, oil, and wax
England exchanged wool

9. Revival of Trade Trade Fairs
People, communities and countries begin to trade again at a higher rate.
Cities of trade, learning & culture emerge

10. Commercial Revolution & Banking: New Business practices:
Increased use of money, credit and insurance.
Lending “capital” spurred the growth of banking
Undermined feudalism => Middle Class of merchants, traders and artisans, many were Jewish because they could lend money with interest and not be viewed as immoral by the Christian Church.

12. Social Changes A New Hierarchy
Merchants, traders and artisans become the new Middle Class.
Peasants were still at the bottom.
Nobles remained at the top.

13. Role of Guilds Guild - Organization of people with a common artisan.
Levied taxes for streets, city walls, new town halls, etc..

15. City Life With population growth comes city life
Sanitation issues -> Stinky
Crowded
Narrow Streets
Tall buildings