europe in the middle ages chapter 10-1. new agriculture during the high middle ages new inventions...
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EUROPE IN THE MIDDLE AGES
Chapter 10-1
NEW AGRICULTURED
uring the High Middle Ages new inventions for farming as well as a more efficient use of land contributed to a dramatic growth in population
Between 1000 & 1300 the population would double
Besides the new farming developments a great period of peace began which led to stable governments & economies
In addition a climate change occurred that made conditions even more favorable for growing crops & more land was available for farming as forests were cut down & swamps drained
NEW AGRICULTUREC
hanges in agriculture also aided the development of farming
Water was harnessed as a source of power to replace manual labor as well as the need for animals to do work
Iron was also developed which allowed for tools to be better constructed thus making the job more efficient & faster
For example the carruca was constructed of iron which allowed the farmer to turn over a heavier sod
This coupled with the development of the horse shoe & horse collar allowed the farmer to turn rocky hard soil much easier & faster
NEW AGRICULTURET
he new farming techniques led to many small farming villages as the new technology, such as the carruca, was very expensive so the village had one that was shared by all
The same was done with animals as all shared in the cost, upkeep, & use
The use of land changed from allowing half the land to fallow, or lay dormant, to regain minerals, to dividing the land into 3 & planting one field in the spring, one in the summer, & one in the fall
This way only a third was left to fallow rather than half
THE MANORIAL SYSTEMU
nder the feudal system lords ran the manor with the assistance of vassals & worked by the peasants
A manor was an agricultural estate worked by peasants
By 800 60% of western Europeans were serfs who were legally bound to the land they lived on & the lord that owned the land
A serf would provide labor & pay rent to the lords in the form of a percentage of whatever they grew or created
Under the feudal system lords & vassals were tied together by mutual obligations.
The lord controlled when serfs could leave & who they could marry & they also held political authority which meant they could try them in their own court
In return the serfs land could not be taken away & the lords were bound to protect them
REVIVAL OF TRADEW
ith the growth of new towns trade began to flourish
Two major trading cities of the period were Venice in Italy & Flanders in France
This development in trade led to a demand for gold & silver coins, which in turn created a money economy , or an economic system based on money rather than barter
New businesses & banks were set up to handle this new exchange in goods, or commercial capitalism, where people invested in trade & goods in order to make a profit
THE GROWTH OF CITIEST
he trade industry not only developed new cities, but also gave new life to the old as well
Typically a group of merchants would build a settlement near a castle, because it was located along a trade route & could offer some protection
If the settlement prospered, new walls were built for greater protection
The merchants & artisans became known as the burghers or bourgeoisie
Over time cities developed their own governments & elected their own officials. Although most elections were rigged as only patricians, or those from the wealthiest families, were actually elected to office
CITY LIFEM
edieval towns were surrounded by stone walls, causing the cities to be very crowded
The cities were very dirty with human & animal waste, smoke filled air, & polluted water (butchers dumped animal blood & waste into rivers, which combined with human/animal waste as well as chemicals from hide tanners)
INDUSTRY & GUILDSA
s trade was revived the city became the center for manufacturing & trades
People began organizing themselves into guilds or business associations
The guilds directed almost every aspect of the production, process and set the standards for quality, and price
They even controlled how many could enter into the trade, and the process that they had to submit to
A person entered the trade at the age of 10 as an apprentice to a master
After 5-7 years of service they would become a journeyman
Once a journeyman, you worked for a master in that field until you created a masterpiece, which was judged by the masters in that community who would determine if you could be called a master & allowed to join the guild