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Answer relating to climateSome people say that the cause of the fall of the Roman Empire in the West around 400 AD was a change in the climate, which caused famines and plagues and made people unhappy with their government.

•It is true that there was a cold period around this time in Western Europe, but it probably came a little later, in the 500's and 600's AD, too late to be the cause of the fall of Roman government. But around 500 the climate did get colder.

• In the south, like in Spain, this may have been good: more rain, maybe. In the north, in France, Germany, and England, it was bad. There was a lot of flooding in the river valleys, and many Roman villages in the valleys had to be abandoned as people moved up onto the hills. You couldn't grow olives or wine so far north as before. One result was a general shift to eating butter rather than olive oil and using tallow or beeswax candles for lighting instead of oil lamps.

•By about 800, in the time of Charlemagne, the weather began to improve again, and around 1000 AD was probably a very good time in Europe, when it was easy to grow wheat and barley and even wine again. The same weather patterns that made for good weather in north-western Europe, however, may have made southern Spain hotter and drier than people liked.

•Again toward the end of the Middle Ages, around 1400 AD, there was another "Little Ice Age," with much the same effects as before. There was a lot of flooding, and in England especially there were many years where the crops were ruined and people went hungry. Although changes in government do have important effects on ordinary people's lives, the weather also plays a very important role.

Answer relating to technologyThere were a number of changes in agriculture and the way it was pursued.

In Roman times, the plow was pulled by attaching it to a horse by tying a rope from one to the other, with the rope simply tied to the horse's neck. This was very fatiguing for the horse. Plows were light and could not turn much soil or plow deeply. The invention of the horse collar and the heavy plow during the Early Middle Ages made agriculture much more efficient, and this made it possible to free more people to pursue crafts.

Horse shoes did not exist in Roman times (nor did stirrups, though this was not a factor for agriculture). Horse shoes added to the value of horses for agriculture.

Wine presses were introduced, making wine production less labor intensive.

Hops came to be used for beer, which meant a new crop was being raised in Germany. Their use spread to other places in later times.

The Middle Ages saw the introduction of three crop rotation instead of two crop. This meant that on any manor, two thirds of the fields were in use at any time instead of half. One third was for crops planted in fall, and one third for crops planted in spring, and this created a different mix of crops.

During the High Middle ages, someone in Britain figured out that cows, which had little to graze on in the winter, were healthier if they had food from storage. Turnips did nicely for this, and the result was a very large increase in milk, cheese, and beef.

Some specialty crops were introduced. One example is a type of thistle with an edible flower bud. Today we call it an artichoke.

Heavy horses bred for jousting were made available for farms.

An increase in interest in spices from the East lead to an increase in locally grown seasonings.

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What social changes were caused by the commercial revolution of the middle ages?

arf arf!


Was a Horseshoe an agricultural advance during middle ages?

Horseshoes were invented during the Middle Ages. They constituted an agricultural advance because they prevented horses' hoofs from being damaged by rocks as they plowed the soil, thus making the horses more useful. A horse could plow more land each year, if it wore horseshoes.


What happened after Europe's population increased during the middle ages?

The population of Europe increased in the High Middle Ages, as agricultural improvement, improvements in laws and economics, guilds, and increased travel lead to a great increase of the sizes and numbers of towns and cities.


What is the third period of the middle ages called?

The third period of the Middle Ages was the Late Middle Ages. The first is called the Early Middle Ages or the Dark Age. The second period was the High Middle Ages.


How technological changes impact society in the middle ages?

Technological changes in the Middle Ages, such as the introduction of the heavy plow, the horse collar, and windmills, significantly boosted agricultural productivity, leading to surplus food and population growth. This surplus allowed for urbanization, as people moved to towns for trade and craftsmanship, fostering the growth of a merchant class and new economic structures. Additionally, innovations like the printing press in the late Middle Ages transformed communication, facilitating the spread of ideas and knowledge, which ultimately contributed to movements such as the Renaissance and the Reformation. Overall, these technological advancements reshaped social structures, economic systems, and cultural practices during the period.

Related Questions

Which was not a new agricultural advance made during the middle ages?

Steam Power


What development during the late Middle Ages laid the foundation of capitalism in Europe?

the decline of agricultural economies


What social changes were caused by the commercial revolution of the middle ages?

arf arf!


What new inventions increased agricultural yields in Europe in the middle ages?

The Ox driving plow and the 3 field system


What were some major results of farming improvements and the revival of trade in the middle ages?

Farming improvements in the Middle Ages led to greater agricultural yields, which attributed to a dramatic increase in population. The revival of trade led to a growth of cities.


What prompted the end of the Middle Ages?

The ending of the Middle Ages was a slow process involving many things. The Renaissance began in about 1300 or 1350, and the Middle Ages lasted until about 1450 or 1500. Increased trade, exploration, increased education, general availability of books, introduction of the scientific method, changes in peoples' religious views, and changes in their attitudes about their places in society have all been suggested as things that ended the Middle Ages.


What is the period in Europe between AD 500 and 1500 known as?

The period of time from 500 AD to 1500 AD is called the Middle Ages.


Was a Horseshoe an agricultural advance during middle ages?

Horseshoes were invented during the Middle Ages. They constituted an agricultural advance because they prevented horses' hoofs from being damaged by rocks as they plowed the soil, thus making the horses more useful. A horse could plow more land each year, if it wore horseshoes.


What changes took place as towns grew and developed in the middle ages?

Cause and effect of reformation


What happened after Europe's population increased during the middle ages?

The population of Europe increased in the High Middle Ages, as agricultural improvement, improvements in laws and economics, guilds, and increased travel lead to a great increase of the sizes and numbers of towns and cities.


What was a explorers in a Middle Ages?

There was no explorers in the middle ages. When exploration started that is when the middle ages ended.


What is the third period of the middle ages called?

The third period of the Middle Ages was the Late Middle Ages. The first is called the Early Middle Ages or the Dark Age. The second period was the High Middle Ages.