Download Lesson 2: The Agricultural Revolution

Name: ______________________________ Period: _________ Date: ___________________
MODERN WORLD HISTORY: Industrial Revolution – The Agricultural Revolution
Key Factors: What factors made farming more efficient during the 1700s?
1. Enclosure: The many smaller fields developed during medieval times could be farmed more
efficiently if they were agglomerated (combined) into fewer but larger fields. This trend increased
rapidly in the 1700’s.
2. *Farming as a Business*: Before this time farming was seen as a way of surviving.
However, enclosure encouraged the idea of farming for a profit which motivated privately (usually
rich) landowners to find more efficient ways of producing on these larger parcels of land.
3. New Livestock Breeds: Farmers began breeding new types of livestock which produced
more meat and thicker wool (sheep) than their medieval counterparts. Robert Bakewell was one
breeder who strove to produce these “super” animals.
4. New Methods: Helped to increase food production.
- Plowing and Fertilization: Jethro Tull discovers increased yields can result from well
broken up soil (ploughed soil) enriched with manure (fertilizer).
- Crop Rotation: Lord Townshend (Turnip Townshend) discovered that you could grow
certain crops such as clover and turnips on fallow fields which helped to reintroduce nutrients into
the soil (Nitrogen fixing crops). Thus, by rotating the crops and ensuring nitrogen fixation, one
could produce up to four times as much.
5. Better Technologies:
Seed Drill: (Jethro Tull) A machine which planted seeds deep within the soil in rows very quickly
(The machine was pulled by a horse and had a rotating drum with spikes which made holes that
seed was dropped into). This result resulted in increased crop germination success with much
less wasted seed compared to the old technique of broadcasting (Throwing seed on the field by
hand). It also made weeding and maintenance much easier.
Why Britain?
Some Essential Elements:
1. Labor Force: Britain had many available workers needing jobs as a result of its rapidly
increasing population (since the 1600s) and decreased need for farmers (due to innovation during
the agricultural revolution, less farmers were needed to produce food for the nation).
2. The Emergence of a Powerful Middle Class: After the Glorious Revolution, the middle class
(landowners and businessmen) became powerful in parliament. Thus, they helped pass laws that
would benefit the growth of businesses.
3. Capital Surplus: A huge amount of wealth was introduced into Britain from its colonies
(mercantilism).
4. Raw Materials: Britain had the natural resources necessary to develop industry, especially
materials such as coal and iron.
5. First to Engage in the Agricultural Revolution: More food produced using much less labor.
Name: ______________________________ Period: ________ Date: ____________________
MODERN WORLD HISTORY: Industrial Revolution – Agricultural Revolution Matrix
Before the
Agricultural Revolution
Field Size
Livestock
Methods of
Production
Utilization of
Technology
Amount of
Labor Needed
Farming
Philosophy
Yields
(How many
crops were
produced)
After the
Agricultural Revolution