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Assessing agricultural adaptation to changing climatic conditions during the English agricultural revolution (1645–1740)

Author

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  • José Luis Martínez-González

    (Facultat d’Economia i Empresa, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain ; Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

This article examines the impact of climatic variability on the English Agricultural Revolution using Allen’s Nitrogen Hypothesis. While half of the variation in yields can be attributed to nitrogen-fxing plants, better cultivation, and improved seeds, the remainder can be attributed to changing climatic conditions during the relatively cold period from c. 1645–1715 and the subsequent warmer phase. The study fnds that farmers made even greater eforts than observed yields during the colder and more humid climate of the second half of the seventeenth century and the early eighteenth. Conversely, increasing temperatures in the following period had a positive efect on agricultural productivity, indicating that farmers’ role during this phase have been overrated.

Suggested Citation

  • José Luis Martínez-González, 2025. "Assessing agricultural adaptation to changing climatic conditions during the English agricultural revolution (1645–1740)," Cliometrica, Journal of Historical Economics and Econometric History, Association Française de Cliométrie (AFC), vol. 19(1), pages 163-193, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:afc:cliome:v:19:y:2025:i:1:p:163-193
    DOI: 10.1007/s11698-024-00285-4
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Agricultural revolution · England · Climate · Nitrogen · Seventeenth century;

    JEL classification:

    • N53 - Economic History - - Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment and Extractive Industries - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • Q10 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - General
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming
    • Q55 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation
    • Q57 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Ecological Economics

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