THE SOCIAL ORIGINS OF AGRARIAN CHANGE IN LATE-MEDIEVAL ENGLAND

Agrarian change in late medieval England (about 1300-1500) was an impo rtant precursor of the agricultural revolution of later centuries. Rec ent historical scholarship shows pronounced regional differences in ag rarian change during this period. This article uses both historical ev idence and the results of a multivariate analysis to criticize various explanations of regional differences in agrarian change. Neither popu lation density, nor ecology, nor access. to markets, nor class relatio ns can adequately explain the regional pattern. A crucial factor shapi ng the regional pattern of agrarian change was the local social organi zation of production (or the ''field system'').