The European Agricultural Revolution in the Sixteenth Century
During the sixteenth century, Europe’s population grew slowly but steadily. Between 1475 and 1620， the overall gain was 50 percent. Urban populations also increased considerably, stimulated by the expansion of European seaborne commerce with Africa and with South and East Asia and by colonial ventures in the tropical Americas. Mediterranean Europe had been the important urban and commercial region, but in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, northwestern European towns and cities grew more rapidly and became Europe’s dominant area. The Netherlands became the most urbanized country in Europe: in the early sixteenth century, about one-fifth of its population resided in towns larger than 10,000 persons, and by 1620 that number had grown to more than half-a first in human history. London in 1500 contained 50,000 persons; this number rose to 200,000 around 1600 and to 400,000 by 1650.
Growth of both urban and rural populations increased the demand for agricultural and manufactured products. Agricultural prices increased by five times between 1475 and 1620-real increases, not inflation. These pressures launched western Europe’s modern agricultural revolution, a slow process that reached maturation only in the mid- nineteenth century. It built on the foundations of earlier agricultural developments, and its objective was to increase output. Landlords and agricultural entrepreneurs sought greater profit; peasants sought subsistence or additional income to pay their taxes and buy necessities. Historians sometimes credit aristocrats with creating innovative agricultural techniques because, being literate, this class left account books and writings about agriculture. But the essential innovations came from peasant gardens, where they had been practiced for centuries.
The modern agricultural revolution involved applying techniques used and crops grown in peasant gardens or small plots-turnips, lucerne, and clovers-to larger- scale operations. These had been grown without fallowing (leaving land uncultivated for a time) every growing season, spring to winter, as food for barnyard animals-rabbits, cows, pigs. When transferred to the large fields, these crops increased output tremendously. The innovations occurred at many sites in the sixteenth century, for example, in northern Italy and in Provence in southeastern France. Continuous use of the land had long existed in market gardens near cities; abundant supplies of manure and high prices for fresh produce provided the means and incentives, respectively. In the Netherlands and southern England, urban pressures advanced agriculture widely.
Bringing clovers, lucerne, and turnips-livestock food- into the fallow land, which had been part of the crop-rotation cycle in the large grainfields, was the heart of the agricultural revolution. Pasturelands planted to grasses and clovers also entered into the rotation cycles -the practice of growing different crops in succession on the same land. These techniques increased output in several ways. First, more livestock could be fed. They, in turn, produced more meat, milk, cheese, wool, hides, and harness power. Some wealthy landowners improved stock breeding to make healthier and more productive animals. Second, the increased livestock produced more manure, which increased soil fertility for all crops, especially grain. Third, legumes (such as clovers and lucerne) fixed nitrogen (converted atmospheric nitrogen into usable form in soil), an essential plant food that boosted grain production. Eliminating fallow meant, in effect, increasing land in production, meaning not only more production but more labor needed in agriculture.
Besides increasing yields per existing units of land, another important technique for increasing output was to increase areas in cultivation. Europe still contained broad expanses of land not yet improved, that is, land not yet cleared of forest, brush, or rocks, as well as marshy areas, both inland and coastal, not yet drained and diked. The result was more pasture and more land in cultivation. Extension of cultivation went on continuously from the sixteenth to the mid-nineteenth century, with the better lands added to production in the earlier centuries. These improvements required more, not less, labor in agriculture, so agricultural populations continued to increase. More land was in cultivation, and higher production of grain, fodder, and animals required more workers.
1
During the sixteenth century, Europe’s population grew slowly but steadily. Between 1475 and 1620， the overall gain was 50 percent. Urban populations also increased considerably, stimulated by the expansion of European seaborne commerce with Africa and with South and East Asia and by colonial ventures in the tropical Americas. Mediterranean Europe had been the important urban and commercial region, but in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, northwestern European towns and cities grew more rapidly and became Europe’s dominant area. The Netherlands became the most urbanized country in Europe: in the early sixteenth century, about one-fifth of its population resided in towns larger than 10,000 persons, and by 1620 that number had grown to more than half-a first in human history. London in 1500 contained 50,000 persons; this number rose to 200,000 around 1600 and to 400,000 by 1650.
Paragraph 1 suggests that to be considered urban, a sixteenth-century settlement needed to have a population of at least
A1,500
B10,000
C50,000
D200,000
2
During the sixteenth century, Europe’s population grew slowly but steadily. Between 1475 and 1620， the overall gain was 50 percent. Urban populations also increased considerably, stimulated by the expansion of European seaborne commerce with Africa and with South and East Asia and by colonial ventures in the tropical Americas. Mediterranean Europe had been the important urban and commercial region, but in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, northwestern European towns and cities grew more rapidly and became Europe’s dominant area. The Netherlands became the most urbanized country in Europe: in the early sixteenth century, about one-fifth of its population resided in towns larger than 10,000 persons, and by 1620 that number had grown to more than half-a first in human history. London in 1500 contained 50,000 persons; this number rose to 200,000 around 1600 and to 400,000 by 1650.
In paragraph 1， why does the author provide information about the population of London in 1500， 1600, and 1650 ？
ATo challenge the claim that the Netherlands was the most urbanized country in Europe
BTo support the claim that cities in northwestern Europe grew rapidly in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries
CTo provide an example of a city that did not follow typical European population trends
DTo suggest that London was the first city in human history to grow at a very rapid pace
3
Growth of both urban and rural populations increased the demand for agricultural and manufactured products. Agricultural prices increased by five times between 1475 and 1620-real increases, not inflation. These pressures launched western Europe’s modern agricultural revolution, a slow process that reached maturation only in the mid- nineteenth century. It built on the foundations of earlier agricultural developments, and its objective was to increase output. Landlords and agricultural entrepreneurs sought greater profit; peasants sought subsistence or additional income to pay their taxes and buy necessities. Historians sometimes credit aristocrats with creating innovative agricultural techniques because, being literate, this class left account books and writings about agriculture. But the essential innovations came from peasant gardens, where they had been practiced for centuries.
The word “objective”in the passage is closest in meaning to
Aresult
Bmethod
Cgoal
Dattraction
4
Growth of both urban and rural populations increased the demand for agricultural and manufactured products. Agricultural prices increased by five times between 1475 and 1620-real increases, not inflation. These pressures launched western Europe’s modern agricultural revolution, a slow process that reached maturation only in the mid- nineteenth century. It built on the foundations of earlier agricultural developments, and its objective was to increase output. Landlords and agricultural entrepreneurs sought greater profit; peasants sought subsistence or additional income to pay their taxes and buy necessities. Historians sometimes credit aristocrats with creating innovative agricultural techniques because, being literate, this class left account books and writings about agriculture. But the essential innovations came from peasant gardens, where they had been practiced for centuries.
According to paragraph 2， all of the following contributed to the advance of the modern agricultural revolution that occurred in Europe EXCEPT:
ALandlords and agricultural entrepreneurs hoped to create larger profits by increasing agricultural production.
BAristocrats wrote about techniques that peasants could use in carrying out agricultural innovations.
CPeasants sought more income in order to pay taxes and buy the goods they needed.
DGrowing populations created a greater demand for food.
5
The modern agricultural revolution involved applying techniques used and crops grown in peasant gardens or small plots-turnips, lucerne, and clovers-to larger- scale operations. These had been grown without fallowing (leaving land uncultivated for a time) every growing season, spring to winter, as food for barnyard animals-rabbits, cows, pigs. When transferred to the large fields, these crops increased output tremendously. The innovations occurred at many sites in the sixteenth century, for example, in northern Italy and in Provence in southeastern France. Continuous use of the land had long existed in market gardens near cities; abundant supplies of manure and high prices for fresh produce provided the means and incentives, respectively. In the Netherlands and southern England, urban pressures advanced agriculture widely.
According to paragraph 3， before the sixteenth century, turnips, lucerne, and clovers were
Athe only crops successfully grown in market gardens
Bgrown continuously from spring until winter by peasants to feed their rabbits, cows, and pigs
Cused in large fields to increase output
Dgenerally avoided because they required abundant supplies of manure
6
Bringing clovers, lucerne, and turnips-livestock food- into the fallow land, which had been part of the crop-rotation cycle in the large grainfields, was the heart of the agricultural revolution. Pasturelands planted to grasses and clovers also entered into the rotation cycles -the practice of growing different crops in succession on the same land. These techniques increased output in several ways. First, more livestock could be fed. They, in turn, produced more meat, milk, cheese, wool, hides, and harness power. Some wealthy landowners improved stock breeding to make healthier and more productive animals. Second, the increased livestock produced more manure, which increased soil fertility for all crops, especially grain. Third, legumes (such as clovers and lucerne) fixed nitrogen (converted atmospheric nitrogen into usable form in soil), an essential plant food that boosted grain production. Eliminating fallow meant, in effect, increasing land in production, meaning not only more production but more labor needed in agriculture.
According to paragraph 4， which of the following contributed most to the agricultural revolution?
AGrowing crops for human consumption that had formerly been used only to feed livestock
BIntroducing crops grown as food for animals into the crop-rotation cycle
CImproving livestock breeding, which led to healthier and more productive animals
DReplacing clovers, lucerne, and turnips with grasses in the crop-rotation cycle
7
Bringing clovers, lucerne, and turnips-livestock food- into the fallow land, which had been part of the crop-rotation cycle in the large grainfields, was the heart of the agricultural revolution. Pasturelands planted to grasses and clovers also entered into the rotation cycles -the practice of growing different crops in succession on the same land. These techniques increased output in several ways. First, more livestock could be fed. They, in turn, produced more meat, milk, cheese, wool, hides, and harness power. Some wealthy landowners improved stock breeding to make healthier and more productive animals. Second, the increased livestock produced more manure, which increased soil fertility for all crops, especially grain. Third, legumes (such as clovers and lucerne) fixed nitrogen (converted atmospheric nitrogen into usable form in soil), an essential plant food that boosted grain production. Eliminating fallow meant, in effect, increasing land in production, meaning not only more production but more labor needed in agriculture.
According to paragraph 4， which of the following was NOT one of the advantages farmers gained from their new agricultural techniques?
AMore animal products, such as milk, meat, and wool
BMore fertilizer and animal power
CIncreased grain production
DLower labor costs
8
Besides increasing yields per existing units of land, another important technique for increasing output was to increase areas in cultivation. Europe still contained broad expanses of land not yet improved, that is, land not yet cleared of forest, brush, or rocks, as well as marshy areas, both inland and coastal, not yet drained and diked. The result was more pasture and more land in cultivation. Extension of cultivation went on continuously from the sixteenth to the mid-nineteenth century, with the better lands added to production in the earlier centuries. These improvements required more, not less, labor in agriculture, so agricultural populations continued to increase. More land was in cultivation, and higher production of grain, fodder, and animals required more workers.
According to paragraph 5， the continuous extension of cultivation resulted in
Aa reduced amount of land available for other purposes
Bthe use of areas of poor quality for agricultural practices
Ca rise in the number of people involved in farming
Dless need to increase yields per existing unit of land
9
Growth of both urban and rural populations increased the demand for agricultural and manufactured products. Agricultural prices increased by five times between 1475 and 1620-real increases, not inflation. These pressures launched western Europe’s modern agricultural revolution, a slow process that reached maturation only in the mid- nineteenth century.[■] It built on the foundations of earlier agricultural developments, and its objective was to increase output. [■]Landlords and agricultural entrepreneurs sought greater profit; peasants sought subsistence or additional income to pay their taxes and buy necessities. [■]Historians sometimes credit aristocrats with creating innovative agricultural techniques because, being literate, this class left account books and writings about agriculture. [■]But the essential innovations came from peasant gardens, where they had been practiced for centuries.
Look at the four squaresthat indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage
The economic motivation for increased production was an important factor, but who actually developed the techniques that made this possible?
Where would the sentence best fit？Click on a square sentence to the passage.
10
Increased demand from a growing and urbanizing population led to an agricultural revolution in Europe.
AEurope’s rapid population growth, particularly in London during the sixteenth century, increased agricultural output by 50 percent.
BBecause agricultural prices were inflated, many urban dwellers found it difficult to purchase fresh produce, milk, and cheese, leading many to start their own gardens.
CInnovations were designed primarily by aristocrats and agricultural entrepreneurs, who encouraged peasant farmers to make their farming techniques more efficient.
DPeasant crops typically used in small garden plots were entered into the crop-rotation cycles of large fields.
EGrowing lucerne, clovers, and turnips fed more animals, increased soil fertility, and kept agricultural fields productive year-round.
FIn addition to an increase in the productivity of land already in use, new land was cleared for pastures and crops, creating a need for more workers and therefore a larger agricultural economy.
