The Importance of the Agricultural Revolution to the Industrial Revolution

Crop yield increased

• Enough food was available for people in the cities

• Falling food prices meant more money to spend on consumer goods

• Healthier population which meant decline in death rate, especially in infants

• In the 18th century, the population doubled from 5 million to 10 million

Wool yield increased due to better care of animals and selective breeding

• More wool was available for the textile industry and at less cost

Ready workforce available

• Peasants were turned off their land by enclosures

• Families moved into the cities

• There was much unemployment and many people were looking for work

• Labour was cheap

• The Industrial Revolution Index
• The Agricultural Revolution Index
• The Four Field System
• The Seed Drill
• Improvements to Livestock
• Chronology of the Agricultural Revolution (Opens in new window)

© Shirley Burchill, Nigel Hughes, Peter Price and Keith Woodall 2009