Slow new day — what with only commutations of felony sentences and such to report on. So the NY Times reports on a new 708-page tome about the modernization of Europe: The Pursuit of Glory – Europe 1648-1815. (Europe’s Rise to Power? Thank Better Roads, Revolutions of All Sorts and Turnips.)
Turns out turnips can share in the credit for bringing Europe out of the Dark Ages:
While everyone likely to read this book has heard of the scientific revolution, brought about by people like Isaac Newton, and the industrial revolution that began toward the end of the period (both well covered here), the agricultural revolution occurring at the same time was equally important. In 1648 European agriculture had not changed much since medieval times. But enclosure, manuring, crop rotation, new crops like turnips and clover, and improved breeding brought forth a large increase in food production.
One result was a golden age for the landed gentry, whose rent rolls increased sharply, and their conspicuous consumption along with them. (Robert Walpole employed 50 people just to weed his gardens.) Another result was the freeing of manpower to work in the factories that were beginning to spring up in the English countryside. The industrial revolution came about because of turnips as well as steam engines.
Yes… exactly.
And… it goes to the point of climate change = economic change = cultural change.
I’m not ranting on about our current climatic woes (or not). I merely pointing out that EVERYTHING GOOD IN THE HISTORY OF CIVILIZATION happened when there was plenty to eat.
I’m gonna have to get this book… I am SO BEHIND on my reading.
Thanks Craig. Good head’s Up.
Oh – I need to email you the same pdf (from Science) that I sent to Hank – about the roots of agriculture. I finally read through it – and it’s fascinating. There’s a great timeline about when things ‘appeared’ that just floored me.
But while I’m sure that the turnip (and clover) had it’s day – I’m guessing that the roots of this whole thing had more to do with soil – and soil type and quality and management changes – than anything. There is an odd and interesting book by Daniel Hillel (it’s not recent) called ‘Out of the Earth: Civilization and the Life of the Soil’ – some of it makes me cringe, but most of it is just fascinating and it makes you rethink everything about history and the why of it. But then hey, I love soil – and how a soil scientist by training ended up doing microbiology in a marine lab and affiliated with a medical school is way beyond me!