1. The Culture of the High Middle Ages
Agricultural and Economic Revolution
The revival of learning

2. Agricultural and Economic Revolution
C AD

3. Changes in Agriculture
Population explosion (38-74 mil. in 300 years)
The settlement of the 9th century invaders led to peace and stability
Climate improved
More land farmed = more food
Changes in technology (next slide)

4. Inventions and the Agricultural Revolution (after 1000)
Water and wind mills
Heavier plows made of iron (Carruca)
Collar harness (horses instead of oxen)
The horseshoe
The three field system
The result
Better crops, more food, better diet
Between 1000 and 1300 the population of Western Europe doubled

5. The Growth of Trade
The population explosion also caused an increase in demand
The first city states (Venice, Genoa, Pisa) established trade with the East (Asia-Byz-Eur)
New business practices made trade easier “The Commercial Revolution”
Coins (money economy)
Banking (letters of credit)
Partnerships (joint stock Co’s)

6. The Revival of Towns Old Roman cities come back to life
Craftsmen now produce goods for trade and create the new middle class or Bourgeoisie
Guilds: Apprentice, Journeyman, Master
Organizations of crafts workers (unions)
Government: right to rule themselves from Charters obtained from the Lord
Town Life (dirty, smelly, dangerous)
Labor lords eventually become land lords
Serfs become rent paying peasants

7. Literature and Language
The growth of the vernacular: Everyday speech in a particular region
Dante Alghieri ( ): The Divine Comedy
Geoffrey Chaucer: The Canterburry Tales (late 1300’s)