HSTY1025 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Infant Mortality, Manorialism, Manorial Court
18 Jul 2018
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Improved farming methods: expanded areas under cultivation, warmer weather. Introduction of protein grains for the peasantry, meat sparse-> people were smaller in stature, less energy, child bearing abilities. Gave rise to bigger markets, more towns, cash economy. Black death late 1340s- decimation of the population came from not just the plague but the weakened constitution of the population- people underfed etc. Later middle ages, rural population constituted the majority- 85-90% of the population were rural. Market pressures: wool, textiles- demand for wool-> increased interest in sheep farming, enclosure of agricultural land. Less land devoted to food production- lower demand for agricultural workers and tenant farmers. Sheep farming much easier in terms of physical labour: the monasteries used lands donated to farm sheep instead of building monasteries- further increasing their wealth, wheat shortages constantly. Lords/vassals ^ loyalty and military aid >food, shelter and protection. Knights/vassals ^ homage and military service >food, shelter and protection.
