Examkin

Question

Difficulty: EasyExplicit Detail Retrieval

In her study of late medieval agrarian economics, historian Elena Rostova analyzed estate accounts from fourteenth-century Norfolk to examine the impact of sheep-farming on manorial revenues following the demographic shocks of the mid-century. Contrary to earlier assertions that manorial lords universally converted arable land to pasture, Rostova demonstrated that Norfolk landlords primarily relied on hybrid agricultural strategies. While smaller estates indeed shifted rapidly toward wool production due to lower labor requirements, larger manorial demesnes maintained mixed farming systems, retaining significant grain cultivation alongside sheep flocks. Furthermore, Rostova noted that manorial accounts recorded peasant tenant holdings as maintaining higher crop yields per acre than demesne lands during the same period, attributable to intensive labor investment by peasant families rather than technological innovation.

Based on the passage, which of the following statements regarding agricultural practices in fourteenth-century Norfolk are explicitly supported? Consider each of the choices separately and select all that apply.

  1. Larger manorial demesnes preserved mixed agricultural practices rather than converting entirely to wool production.Answer
  2. B
    Peasant tenant holdings achieved higher crop yields per acre than demesne lands as a result of advances in farming technology.
  3. Smaller estates transitioned to wool production quickly because sheep-farming demanded less labor.Answer

Answer

The statements indicating that larger demesnes preserved mixed farming practices and that smaller estates transitioned rapidly to wool production because of lower labor requirements are both explicitly supported by the text.
The passage explicitly supports two statements: larger demesnes maintained mixed farming systems with grain cultivation alongside sheep flocks, and smaller estates shifted rapidly to wool production because of lower labor requirements.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Scan the text for information about larger manorial demesnes.
The passage explicitly states that larger demesnes maintained mixed farming systems, retaining significant grain cultivation alongside sheep flocks.
To determine whether larger demesnes avoided exclusive conversion to pasture.
2
Scan the text for information regarding the reasons for higher crop yields on peasant tenant holdings.
The passage attributes these higher yields to intensive labor investment by peasant families rather than technological innovation.
To evaluate whether technological innovation caused the higher crop yields.
3
Scan the text for statements about smaller estates and wool production.
The passage explicitly notes that smaller estates shifted rapidly toward wool production due to lower labor requirements.
To verify the rate and rationale behind the shift on smaller estates.

Key Concept

Explicit Detail Retrieval
Rate this question

Topics

Explicit Detail Retrieval

More questions from this topic