The British Agricultural Revolution Quiz

The British Agricultural Revolution was an increase in agricultural production in Britain between the mid-17th to late 19th centuries, with agricultural output growing faster than the population over the hundred-year period ending in 1770. This led to a rapid growth of population in England and Wales. The revolution contributed to the decline of the agricultural share of the labour force and the growth of the urban workforce on which industrialization depended. The revolution led to the development of the Norfolk four-course rotation, which greatly increased crop and livestock yields by improving soil fertility and reducing fallow. The Dutch light plow was introduced to Britain, and Joseph Foljambe's cast iron plough was invented. New crops like the potato and maize were introduced, and crop rotation was improved by planting cover crops such as turnips and clover. The practice of enclosing property accelerated in the 15th and 16th centuries, and the process of enclosure was largely complete by the end of the 18th century. The British Agricultural Revolution was the result of the complex interaction of social, economic and farming technological changes.The British Agricultural Revolution was a significant turning point in history, allowing for sustained population growth and industrial pre-eminence. Key developments included private marketing, trading between markets, and a national market driven by London and other growing cities. Legislation regulated middlemen and addressed weights and measures, fixing of prices, and toll collection. Transportation infrastructure included the expansion of roads and inland waterways, and railroads would eventually reduce the cost of land transport by over 95%. Land conversion, drainage, and reclamation were aided by land maintenance advancements in Flanders and the Netherlands. Selective breeding of livestock was introduced, and higher yield per acre crops were planted. The introduction of affordable and reliable machinery, including agricultural machinery, improved productivity significantly. The Agricultural Revolution in Britain did not result in overall productivity per hectare of agricultural area as high as in China. The substantial gains in British agricultural productivity were rapidly offset by competition from cheaper imports in the late 19th century.The Agricultural Revolution paved the way for the Industrial Revolution, as it allowed for manpower to be liberated from agriculture and become available for industry. Unprecedented population growth and urbanization followed as a result of the Agricultural Revolution. The decline of manpower engaged in agriculture from 80% to 60% sparked great social revolutions or reformations. Power shifted from landowners to industrial entrepreneurs or central-planning states, marking a revolutionary break with the past. The Second Agricultural Revolution created a basis for modern civilization, as agriculture accounts for 5% of the world product and holds the other 95% like a reverse pyramid. Without agriculture as a basis, all the technological progress of modern civilization would collapse. The Inca recognized the importance of agriculture as the foundation of civilization. The Agricultural Revolution is a crucial aspect of the history of human development. There is a need for sustainable agriculture to ensure the continued success of modern civilization. The Industrial Revolution would not have been possible without the Agricultural Revolution. The revolution from above was characterized by the shift of power from landowners to industrial entrepreneurs or central-planning states.