Agricultural Revolution
18th century - background (p.1)
commercializing landowners seek higher yields, break traditional systems down
population growth throughout Europe leads to higher prices for grain, bread
rural and urban poor are squeezed by prices that primarily benefit landowners
key ag. innovations: Dutch drain techniques, use of iron plows, improved crop rotation, animal husbandry
What are up & down sides to technology? (agricultural revolution & in general)
Enclosure movement-
Great Britain
open grazing lands, wide-open spaces are not as efficient
Parliamentary acts create smaller, contained farms from expansive traditional areas
small farmers hurt by commercial expansion-creation of an industrial setting, services required for new economy
peasants: universal involvement in a marketplace/commercial economy
GB-more progressive than the rest of Europe in commercial agriculture
18th C - Industrial Revolution
Sharp increase in consumer demand: household items of various sorts
beginnings of marketing, advertising to a mass audience in England & W. Europe
socio-economic movement away from self-sufficiency to market involvement
culture becomes more dynamic, characterized by changing fashions, etc.
How might this have improved lives of average Europeans?
Why was Great Britain first in the Industrial Revolution?
centralized political & economic system- Bank of England, taxation, Parliament
central location in western world
colonial empire generates consumer demand and provides influx of resources
traditional wealth is commercially-oriented: more willing to invest resources in industry
Key components to English Industrial Revolution
"putting out" system of textile industry transforms peasant villages, production
"spinning jenny," water frame, power looms are significant technology for industrial age
steam engine transforms countryside - helps in coal mining & eventually in textile industry
improvements in ore processing, use of coke (coal by-product) leads to higher yields of iron
technology, socio-economic transformation, political basis are connected- is this true now?
18th century urbanization
Urban population almost doubles in the 18th century-causes social tension, riots
larger cities create more visible social segregation, class system
poverty, problems of urban congestion also increase - "consumption" a problem
elites maintain control in non-democratic settings
"bourgeoisie" - a new and powerful group
Q- Is class segregation a natural human tendency?
Rise of the "bourgeoisie"
Dynamic, commercial middle-class emerges in cities
this group benefited through market economy: -small business owners, merchants, bankers, etc.
conflicts emerge between old & new wealth-re: patronage & power, old legal codes, monarchies
bourgeoisie betwixt a small, entrenched traditional aristocracy and a growing working class-esp. applicable in western Europe
urban artisan class, guilds are an increasingly influential & commercial force