Why did the poor peasants and artisans begin the work for merchants in 18th century?
Answers
Answer
1. In the countryside, the open field system was prevailing i.e., land was free and anyone could use it for production, so, the rich landlords started enclosing the open fields.
2. They had earlier depended on common lands for their survival, gathering the firewood, berries, vegetables, hay and straw. Now they had to look for alternative source of income.
3. As most of the land was acquired by the rich landlords, the poor had tiny plots of land which could not provide work for all the members of the household. So when merchants came around, and offered advances to produce goods for them, peasant households eagerly agreed.
4. By working for the merchants, the poor peasants and the artisans could continue to remain in the countryside, and cultivate their small plots. Income from proto-industrial production supplemented their shrinking income from cultivation. It also allowed them a fuller use of their family labour resource.
I hope it will helpful to you give thanks to my answer nd follow me plz ☺☺
Answer:
By working for the merchants, the poor peasants and the artisans could continue to remain in the countryside, and cultivate their small plots. Income from proto-industrial production supplemented their shrinking income from cultivation. It also allowed them a fuller use of their family labour resource.