HIS-1700 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Open Field System, Dowry, Crop Rotation
Document Summary
Setting the stage: religion and society at the end of the middle ages (discussing assigned text reading: introduction, argument emphasis on religion transitioned into focus on thought and reason) 80-90% of europeans were peasants, living in rural areas. Most lived in villages of 400-800 people. Feudalism: landowners gave protection to peasants, who worked their lands. (king, aristocrats(lords), peasants(serfs)) By 1600, most peasants were free or semi-free from serfdom. Black death- plague- arrived from asia to parts of europe 1348, reduced population by 40%. Plague was huge component in the fade out of feudalism. Early modern time (1500-1700) most or many serfs were freed. Most peasant farming was subsistence farming not production for market. Produce for towns, cities, and courts came from large estates of nobles (aristocrats aka duke, knight, etc. ) or church. Farming methods: open field system, crop rotation. Big change between feudal farming and commercial agriculture: is the removal of common ground or common pasture area.
