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Heavy Plow

Type Object Region Northern Europe Time c. 900

The heavy plow (a plow with a deep-turning moldboard and wheel support) was a key agricultural technology adapted to the heavy, wet soils of Northern…

Timeline

  1. c. 1190–1200Germany and Denmark · Northern EuropeAround the 1190s, the heavy plow with an asymmetrical moldboard, coulter, and support wheel became standardized in the clay regions of Northern Europe; it required multiple teams of draft animals but could turn, break, and cover the soil in a single pass, significantly outperforming the light plow.
  2. 1200–1300Reclaimed lands east of the Elbe · Central EuropeIn the 13th century, the heavy plow combined with improved horse harnessing and three-field rotation drove large-scale reclamation of the forest and marsh zones of Eastern Europe, expanding arable land and food supply.

Sources