Economics and religion in 12th century in England

Question

What would be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Economics and religion in 12th century in England was overwhelmingly agricultural. Towns functioned as commercial centers, but long distance trade was still undeveloped. Some developments in shipping did occur. In particular, the introduction of the cog - a transport ship that rode low in the water. Cogs were steered by a side oar and powered by a combination of oars and one yard sail. Its strong cross beams allowed for the transportation of greater quantities of cargo than earlier ships. These ships were short and stubby by modern standards, and the relatively large breadth to keel ratio made them difficult to maneuver. The introduction of the magnetic compass during the 12th Century considerably improved navigation. Although England's maritime trade grew during the 13th Century, international trade and commerce was dominated by the cities of Italy. Their commercial expertise and loan facilities enabled them to obtain special concessions from the English government. England's main export was wool. During the later Middle Ages, England increasingly exported finished cloth, but raw wool was the primary export during the 13th Century. English agricultural methods and productivity remained stagnant throughout the Middle Ages. The "strip" system of farming was equitable and extremely inefficient. Yields of grain per acre remained stagnant. Food production was only increased by bringing more land under the plow - a process that stopped once all available waste land had been improved. Christianity in the 12th century was marked by scholastic development and monastic reforms in the western church and a continuation of the Crusades, namely with the Second Crusade in the Holy Land.