Rural Growth and Crisis

1. Rural Growth and Crisis • Rural Life • Peasants • Worked 50 plus hours of labor • Women & men worked the fields • Rural poverty increased which lead to rapid population growth • Population 80 million by 1300

2. Technology • Three field system • rotational system for agriculture in which two fields grow food crops & one lies fallow

3. Great Famine 1315-1317 • Population continued to rise • New settlements • Poor soil for agriculture lead some people to famine • Life expectancy was 30-35 years of age

4. Black Death 1347-1351 • Outbreak of bubonic plaque that spread across Asia, North Africa, and Europe • Reversed population growth • 2 years spread across Europe

5. Black Death 1347-1351, cont • Developed boils, black blotches, foul body odors, and severe pain • Death was within 2days of infection

8. Social Rebellion • Black death survivors demanded higher pay • In Jacquerie peasants looted castles and murdered dozens of people • Authorities put out rebellion with greater bloodshed • Peasants bought freedom or ran away

9. Mills and Mines • Mining, metal working, and use of mechanical energy expanded • Water wheels • Mechanism that harnessed the energy of water to grind grain or to power machinery

10. Mills and Mines, cont • Windmills multiplied across • Growth of industry • Water power aid for iron making • High demand in iron making • metal coins • church bells • cannon • statues