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Medieval two-field crop rotation system

Definition

The medieval two-field crop rotation system was a farming method used during the Middle Ages where farmland was divided into two parts. One part would be planted with crops while the other lay fallow (unused) for a year to restore its fertility.

Analogy

Think of this like recharging your phone's battery - you use it for a while (like planting crops on one field), then you let it rest and recharge (like leaving one field fallow).

Related terms

Three-Field System: The three-field system was an improvement over the two-field system introduced around 800 AD. Farmers could plant more diverse crops and leave only one-third of their land fallow each year instead of half.

Serfdom: Serfdom was a status common during medieval times where peasants were bound to work on their lord's land. They relied heavily on systems like the two-field rotation for survival.

Manorialism: Manorialism was the economic structure during the Middle Ages where lords owned lands (manors) worked by serfs or peasants. The manor included fields which would have been managed using systems like the two-field rotation.