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How did life change for ordinary (non-noble) people in England after serfdom disappeared?
lived in villages, not tied to a lord's land, could rent land
What was life like for most people in rural England during this time?
Poor, worked on farms owned by other people, worked hard for long hours, thought of producing more food
Who were yeomen?
People who owned their own farmland.
Who were gentry?
People who belonged to a higher social class but were not nobles and didn't have titles.
What tools and resources did people use for farming and producing food in England during the time period before the Industrial Revolution?
windmills, watermills, animal power, physical labor
What food and other goods did people in rural England typically produce or make during the time period before the Industrial Revolution?
wheat, rye, barley, oats, vegetables, eggs, milk, grain, cheese, yarn
How did villagers buy and sell goods?
They traded, bought, or sold goods at a weekly market.
Why was winter a common time to slaughter animals?
There might not be enough grain to feed livestock throughout the winter. People could eat the meat, rather than use up grain to feed the animals.
What were some ways the weather could affect people?
Too much rain, or not enough rain, could make it hard to plow. After planting, farmers needed rain, or seedlings would not grow.
Why might farmers and villagers hunt game, even though this was not allowed?
Farmers might want to hunt the animals that ate their crops. People without enough food might poach game because they didn’t have other sources of food.
How did people harvest grain in England at this time?
They harvested grain by hand, using a sickle or scythe.
What work remained to be done with the grain after it was harvested?
The grain had to be bundled, left to dry, threshed To use the grain to make bread, the grain had to be milled.
Why was the harvest so important?
If weather or animals led to a small harvest, people faced malnutrition and the possibility of becoming sick from often fatal diseases.
Why do you think village houses were so simple and bare at this time?
The people had to make almost everything themselves; they didn’t have much time left to build more complex homes or or furniture. Most people were poor.
What was life like for most children?
They helped with farm work. They did not go to school.
When did developments in technology begin to cause big changes for ordinary people in England?
Big changes started happening in the 1600s and 1700s.
