evelopments in Europe: European Agriculture and
D
Social Organization, 1200-1450
1 . estern Europe
W
- Expanded farmland withnew techniques+machinery
- Most people were peasants → hard labor, low returns, frequentfamine, disease, war
- Black Death (1347-1351): killed millions, but also→peasant revolts, decline of
serfdom, and some rural improvements
. E
2 astern Europe
- Opposite trend: nobles tightened control
- Labor shortagesled elites toexpand serfdomand bindpeasants more tightly to the
land
→West = freedom & social change after the plague
East = stronger serfdom & elite control
Peasants, Population, and Plague
Peasats & Patriarchy
- Most western Europeans (1200) =serfson estates ownedby nobles/church
- Heavy labor, little return; worked ~54 hours/week
- Men & women both labored, butpatriarchy reinforcedby religion
- Thomas Aquinas:man reflects God’s image more thanwoman → justified
women’s subordination
Population Growth
- 110-1300: Europe’s populationdoubled(China ~80 milliontoo)
- Reasons: fewer epidemics + Medieval Warm Period (better harvests)
- More people = demand forbetter farming methods&new land
Agricultural Innovations
- Three-fieldsystem: ⅔ planted, ⅓ fallow (instead of½ fallow)
- Legumes & oats restored soil + fed horses
- Still, many regions stuck with older methods (oxen, 2-field)
Expansion & Conflict
- Germans migrated east → colonized land to Elbe/Transylvania
- Teutonic Knights: Christian military order; conquered& Christianized Prussia
, - Forest clearing, swamp draining expanded farmland
Crisis & Famine
- After 1250: overpopulation → poor soils →crop yielddrop
- Great Famine(1315-1317): cold climate, starvationacross N. Europe
The Black Death(1347-1351)
- Origin: Central Asia → via Mongols & trade routes
- Symptoms: boils, black spots, fever, death in days
- Spread: through fleas/rats + human contact
- Mortality:⅓ of Europe died(some areas worse)
- People’s response:
- Religion: saw plague asGod’s punishment→ flagellants,charity
Impact
- Urban areas hit hardest →decline of towns/trade
- Population in 1400 = same as in 1200; only after 1500 did it recover
Social Rebellion After the Black Death
- Cause: Population collapse → labor shortage → workers demanded higher wages
- Rulers’ Response: Tried to freeze wages → peasant revolts erupted.
Examples:
- France, 1358 (Jacquerie): Peasants looted castles, killed nobles.
- England, 1381 (Wat Tyler): ~50,000 rebels invaded London, killed officials, demanded
end of serfdom.
Consequences:
- Revolts were crushed violently, but:
- Wages rose anyway
- Serfdom declined in western Europe (peasants bought freedom/ran away)
- Landowners shifted to sheep pasture, crops with less labor, plow horses, tools
- Survivors enjoyed more meat, leather, and slightly better living standards
though inequality stayed.
Urban Changes:
- Wages went up to attract scarce workers
- Guilds shortened apprenticeships.
- More competition within crafts
D
Social Organization, 1200-1450
1 . estern Europe
W
- Expanded farmland withnew techniques+machinery
- Most people were peasants → hard labor, low returns, frequentfamine, disease, war
- Black Death (1347-1351): killed millions, but also→peasant revolts, decline of
serfdom, and some rural improvements
. E
2 astern Europe
- Opposite trend: nobles tightened control
- Labor shortagesled elites toexpand serfdomand bindpeasants more tightly to the
land
→West = freedom & social change after the plague
East = stronger serfdom & elite control
Peasants, Population, and Plague
Peasats & Patriarchy
- Most western Europeans (1200) =serfson estates ownedby nobles/church
- Heavy labor, little return; worked ~54 hours/week
- Men & women both labored, butpatriarchy reinforcedby religion
- Thomas Aquinas:man reflects God’s image more thanwoman → justified
women’s subordination
Population Growth
- 110-1300: Europe’s populationdoubled(China ~80 milliontoo)
- Reasons: fewer epidemics + Medieval Warm Period (better harvests)
- More people = demand forbetter farming methods&new land
Agricultural Innovations
- Three-fieldsystem: ⅔ planted, ⅓ fallow (instead of½ fallow)
- Legumes & oats restored soil + fed horses
- Still, many regions stuck with older methods (oxen, 2-field)
Expansion & Conflict
- Germans migrated east → colonized land to Elbe/Transylvania
- Teutonic Knights: Christian military order; conquered& Christianized Prussia
, - Forest clearing, swamp draining expanded farmland
Crisis & Famine
- After 1250: overpopulation → poor soils →crop yielddrop
- Great Famine(1315-1317): cold climate, starvationacross N. Europe
The Black Death(1347-1351)
- Origin: Central Asia → via Mongols & trade routes
- Symptoms: boils, black spots, fever, death in days
- Spread: through fleas/rats + human contact
- Mortality:⅓ of Europe died(some areas worse)
- People’s response:
- Religion: saw plague asGod’s punishment→ flagellants,charity
Impact
- Urban areas hit hardest →decline of towns/trade
- Population in 1400 = same as in 1200; only after 1500 did it recover
Social Rebellion After the Black Death
- Cause: Population collapse → labor shortage → workers demanded higher wages
- Rulers’ Response: Tried to freeze wages → peasant revolts erupted.
Examples:
- France, 1358 (Jacquerie): Peasants looted castles, killed nobles.
- England, 1381 (Wat Tyler): ~50,000 rebels invaded London, killed officials, demanded
end of serfdom.
Consequences:
- Revolts were crushed violently, but:
- Wages rose anyway
- Serfdom declined in western Europe (peasants bought freedom/ran away)
- Landowners shifted to sheep pasture, crops with less labor, plow horses, tools
- Survivors enjoyed more meat, leather, and slightly better living standards
though inequality stayed.
Urban Changes:
- Wages went up to attract scarce workers
- Guilds shortened apprenticeships.
- More competition within crafts
