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Heavy Plow

Type Object Region Northern Europe Time 701

The heavy plow (Latin caruca), a moldboard plow with deep-cutting shares that turned the sod, suited to the heavy moist soils of Northern and Northwe…

Timeline

  1. 101–701Light-soil farming regions of the Mediterranean · ItalyThe Mediterranean world commonly used the light plow (ard), which only scratched the surface soil and could not deeply till the heavy moist lands of Northern Europe, limiting the northward expansion of agriculture.
  2. 801–1175Germany and the Low Countries · GermanyThe heavy plow equipped with a moldboard could turn the sod over to one side; combined with wheel support and multi-animal traction, it effectively deep-tilled heavy clay. By the mid-12th century it was widely adopted across the northern European farming belt.
  3. c. 1175–1501Northern England and southern Scandinavia · Northern EnglandHorse harnessing (collar harness) improved traction efficiency; the heavy plow, combined with three-field rotation, cleared forest margins and wetlands, significantly expanding the arable area of Northern Europe and supporting population and urban growth.

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