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The Economy of Europe in the Renaissance

Agriculture

Farming in Central France

A wonderful set of illustrations was made for the Duke of Berry in the 14th century, as illuminations for a book of hours, a kind of cross between a devotional and an almanac that was very popular in the late Middle Ages. All these files are around 100k.

Planting

Here is a good illustration of the wheeled plow. The blade itself was sheathed with iron, to help it cut deep into the soil.

Haying

 Both men and women worked the fields, but each had their customary tasks. Here, the men work the scythes while the women do the raking.

Shearing

 Sheep were a part of every village, whether or not the peasants sold the wool to neighboring towns. This picture is from the month of July.

Play

 August was a good time for recreation -- too soon for harvest and well after the planting. Nobles in the foreground are hawking, but you can see peasants in the background swimming. Work never ends, though, and further in the background some are working the fields.

The Grape Harvest

 Everyone worked at harvest time. Grapes were gathered in September, leaving October for the grain harvest. Notice the one fellow eating up the profit margin.

The Grain Harvest

Winter Work

 This is one of the first pictures we have of peasants in the winter time. The cut-away of the house shows the women making thread or yarn. The man outside is chopping wood.