Essay writing instructions

Essay Writing Pracice: Outline the development of the agriculture and the growth of population in the high Middle Ages.


1) PLAN/ INTRODUCTION

* the aim is to outline the causes & concesquences for the development of agriculture & growth of population in the high Middle ages ( 800-1200)

* significance: to understand the change of the economic and social structure of the society. To understand patterns existing in history ( climate change, changes in the population growth, " economy is the driving force of history")

* this question also helps us to understand Feudalism and its impact on the societies

* Background: Define Feudalism and the European agricultural system straight after the collapse of the Roman Empire ( 500-700 centuries)


2) SUMMARY OF EVIDENCE

* Why did the population grow rapidly from 950 onwards? No plagues taking place, climate was warming up..

* outline the population growth and development of agriculture

- between 650-950 population growth was very slow and irregular: plague, back to the 5th century level
- agriculture was still based on resources of the forest ( hunting, gathering, and the raising of free-range pigs, INSTEAD OF ON THE GROWING OF GRAIN)
- IN THE ANCIENT WORLD the model of urban and rural civilization and an agriculture with grain-growing, market-gardening wine& olive-growing : those had to be revived!
- NEW TECHNIQUES NEEDED! 
* iron-working ( to produce basic tools and accessories like metal part for ploughs, horseshoes..)
* new inventions: heavy plough with coulter and mould-board to turn over fertile low-lying land
* three-crop rotation: reduced fallow land and made it possible to grow spring crops as oats

3) ANALYSIS

Consequences and discussion on these new inventions and the meaning of the growth of population.

CUT THE EVIDENCE NOW: all the inventions and growth of population go hand in hand!

- from 38 million ( 10th) to 75 million (14th c. .)
- more new inventions: water mills. wind-mills
- horse-breeding
- deforestation
- open-field system: cohesion of the village strengthened

USE the key terms!






4) CONCLUSION 

Answer the question and summarize the development!

Essay Writing: 7) To what extent would you agree; " Feudalism weakened the power of the king"?. Explain the system of feudalism as a whole.

IB Essay Structure

1) PLAN
- THE AIM OF THE ESSAY IS TO INVESTIGATE...
- THE ESSAY TRIES TO FIND ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS; TO WHAT EXTENT IS IT FAIR TO SAY..
- IT IS IMPORTANT TO STUDY THESE QUESTIONS BECAUSE ( rationale)
- GIVE AN ARGUMENT ON THE RESEARCH QUESTION


2) SUMMARY OF EVIDENCE
  • ALL THE FACTS SUPPORTING THE RESEARCH QUESTION; FACTS DEALING WITH THE TOPIC.
3) ANALYSIS
  • DISCUSS THE EVIDENCE; GIVE DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEWS, INTERPRETATIONS; USE "ON THE OTHER HAND", "HOWEVER", "MOREOVER". INTRODUCE THE EFFECTS IN THE LONG RUN. WIDER CONTEXT MEANS THAT YOU ANALYSE THE UNIQUE CULTURAL HERITAGE AND ITS IMPACT.
  • USE KEY TERMS OF HISTORY!
4) CONCLUSION
  • ANSWER THE QUESTIONS, PAVE THE WAY FOR THE FUTURE.