Question 1 Explain briefly what the open field system meant to rural people in eighteenth-century England. Look at the system from the point of view of: A rich farmer A labourer A peasant woman
Class 9 - Social science - Peasants and Farmers Page 137
Answers
a) A rich farmer:
In England open fields and common fields had started changing from the 16 century. The village common land was open to all . Here the rich farmers pastured their animals and collective fuel wood for fire and berries and fruits for food.
The rich farmers expanded wool production to earn more profits they wanted to improve their sheep breed. To improve the Sheep breed good pastures were required. So they began enclosing common lands by building Hedges and separating their property from that of the others and pushing the poor from the common land.
b)
A labourer:
As the fences were built the enclosed land could not be used by the poor labourers.Earlier these labourers collect firewood from the forests and took the cattle for grazing. They could get work in these fields.
During the open field system the laborers used to live with landowners but under the enclosure system They lost their jobs they were employed only for harvesting and sowing season. The labourers had to migrate to other parts in search of jobs.
c)A peasant woman:
The worst sufferers of this change in land system were the peasant women.
Under open system for women were an important part of the family. They could collect and use the forest resources like collecting of wood, berries and fruits from the open fields. With the disappearance of the open field system they could no longer collect anything from the open fields and the male members had to move out of villages in search of work so the burden of family was on the women.
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Hope this will help you...
Explanation:
a a rich farmer the open field system was not beneficial for the rich farmer a rich farmer preferred to explained his land holding by enclosing the open land in the 18th century the second round of enclosing open field took place to increase grain production
a labourer as the the fences were built the enclosed land could not be used by the pool labourers earlier this labourer
AP sent women the worst sufferst of this change inland system work the peasant women