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Economic HistoryEconomic History Medieval Era (500 – 1400 AD)

Feudalism -- Western Europe Second Agricultural Revolution (900 - 1500

AD) Stirrup Horse Collar Horse Power Vertical Plow 3 Field Crop Rotation

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Wheat - Year 1Fallow - Year 2

Fallow - Year 1Wheat - Year 2

Field one 300 acres Field two 300 acres

Wheat - year 1

Legume- year 2

Fallow – year 3

Legume-year 1

Fallow - year 2

Wheat - year 3

Fallow - year 1

Wheat - year 2

Legume - year 3

Field one200 acres

Field two200 acres

Field Three200 acres

Two Field Crop Rotation

Three Field Crop Rotation

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Two field rotation Plowing 300 + (300 x 2) = 900 AcresCrop 300 AcresRatio 300/900 = .33

Three field rotationPlowing 200 + 200 + (200 x 2) = 800 Acres Crop 400 AcresRatio 400/800 = .50

How much new land can be brought into production with same amount of work?

• 100 acres • 50 acres• 75 acres75 acres

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Accumulation--Economic Surplus

How is it used?

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Cities - cathedrals

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