The “Little Ice Age”:The “Little Ice Age”:1350-17001350-1700

Medieval “Warm Period”

In the 17century, Europe relied on a very inefficient agricultural system to feed its population.

1717thth century century EuropeanEuropean

AgrarianismAgrarianism

Feudal Common Field SystemFeudal Common Field System

Yield Ratio for Grain CropsYield Ratio for Grain Crops(1400-1800)(1400-1800)

Grain Supplies in 16Grain Supplies in 16thth century century EuropeEurope

Cereal Crops in the 18Cereal Crops in the 18th th century century

Small Town “Farmer’s Small Town “Farmer’s Markets”Markets”

The Village School 17th century The Village School 17th century stylestyle

Country People Playing a Ball Country People Playing a Ball GameGame

A Lace MakerA Lace Maker

Supplemental Income Supplemental Income Cottage Cottage Industries: “Putting-Out” SystemIndustries: “Putting-Out” System

The “Putting-Out” SystemThe “Putting-Out” System

Advantages of the Putting-Out Advantages of the Putting-Out SystemSystem1. Peasants could supplement their agricultural

incomes.

Take advantage of winter months when farming was impossible.

2. Merchants could avoid the higher wages and often demanding regulations of urban labor.

Easier to reduce the number of workers when the economy was bad.

3. Merchants could acquire capital, which would later play a part in funding industrialization itself.

Peasants acquired skills.

4. Young people could start separate households earlier, thus contributing to population growth.

Disadvantage of the Putting-Out Disadvantage of the Putting-Out System??System??

When demand rose…which it did in the 18th century this system proved inefficient.

Merchant-capitalists found it difficult to induce peasant-workers to increase their output.

This dilemma eventually led to the factory system

All the workers were concentrated in one place under the supervision of a manager.

Water or steam power could easily be applied there.

““Apprentices at Their Looms”Apprentices at Their Looms”William Hogarth, 1687William Hogarth, 1687

Population Density: 18Population Density: 18thth century century EuropeEurope

1818thth century centuryPopulationPopulation

GrowthGrowthRateRate

European Urbanization: 1500-European Urbanization: 1500-18001800

Industry & Population: 18Industry & Population: 18thth century century EuropeEurope

““Gin Lane”Gin Lane”byby

William William HogarthHogarth

17511751

““Beer Beer Street”Street”

bybyWilliam William HogarthHogarth

17511751

Emancipation of the Peasantry to Emancipation of the Peasantry to 18121812

““Enclosed” FieldsEnclosed” Fields

British Raw MaterialsBritish Raw Materials

1818thth century British port century British port

The Growth of England’sThe Growth of England’sForeign Trade in the 18Foreign Trade in the 18thth

centurycentury

1818thth century English “Nouveau century English “Nouveau Riche”:Riche”:

The Capitalist EntrepreneurThe Capitalist Entrepreneur