The Social Origins of Agrarian Change in Late Medieval England

Agrarian change in late medieval England (about 1300-1500) was an important precursor of the agricultural revolution of later centuries. Recent historical scholarship shows pronounced regional differences in agrarian change during this period. This article uses both historical evidence and the results of a multivariate analysis to criticize various explanations of regional differences in agraian change. Neither population density, nor ecology, nor access to markets, nor class relations can adequately explain the regional pattern. A crucial factor shaping the regional pattern of agrarian change was the local social organization of production (or the "field system").