REVOLUTION

AND THE
INDUSTRIAL
REVOLUTION
Chapter IV
AGRICULTURE LIKE BEFORE
THE REVOLUTION
Before the Industrial Revolution, agriculture workers labored six days a week, from sun up to sun down,
just to keep their crops growing. Because of the intensity and necessity of agricultural labor, it was the
largest employment source in Europe. Men, women and children worked side by side to feed the country.
Often if the father was a farm owner and worker, his entire family labored alongside him. Working in
agriculture was not just a job but often a lifestyle for families.
This meant that farmers would only produce enough food to satisfy the basic needs of the society.
AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION
An agricultural revolution definition outlines specific periods in human civilization when farming
techniques drastically improved the mass cultivation of crops within a relatively short period of time. This
leads to greater production of food and the transformation of societies and economies.

• First Agricultural Revolution (circa 10,000 BC), the prehistoric transition from hunting and gathering to settled agriculture (also
known as the Neolithic Revolution)
•
Arab Agricultural Revolution (8th–13th century), The spread of new crops and advanced techniques in the Muslim world
•
British Agricultural Revolution (17th–19th century), an unprecedented increase in agricultural productivity in Great Britain (also
known as the Second Agricultural Revolution)
•
Scottish Agricultural Revolution (17th–19th century), the transformation into a modern and productive system
•
Third Agricultural Revolution (1930s–1960s), an increase in agricultural production, especially in the developing world (also known
as the Green Revolution)
AFTER THE REVOLUTION
The Industrial Revolution improved the agriculture and involved major developments such as the
enclosure of open fields and the adoption of new farming techniques.

Farmers adopted new farming methods and techniques including the seed drill, the plough and the
improved breeding methods.
IMPACTS
Although the Agricultural Revolution had many positive impacts, there were also negative aspects as
well. For starters the number of new inventions and methods of production that the Agricultural
Revolution brought meant that changes would be made in organization, management, finance,
marketing, and transportation in order for these new techniques to become more effective. Another
negative that came from the Agricultural Revolution was the necessary conditions needed for efficient
farming, such as; adequate farm buildings, access of roads, drainage of wetlands, transport facilities for
marketing, and sources of finance for farmers. These were negative effects seen across Europe by many
who joined in the Revolution. Some examples of negatives specific to the inventors mentioned in this
page can be seen in both Bakewell’s and Townshend’s inventions. Robert Bakewell’s inbreeding methods
had many failed “improved breeds” in his process, possibly as many failed breeds as there were
successful breeds. At the same time, Lord Townshend introduced the turnip crop, which is highly
susceptible to failure because of the heavy labor requirements for its success.