Agro Economy of Medieval France

[go2venkat]

Agricultural progress provided the stimulus
necessary to set off economic expansion in medieval
France. As long as those who worked the land
were barely able to ensure their own subsistence
(5) and that of their landlords, all other activities had
to be minimal, but when food surpluses increased,
it became possible to release more people for
governmental, commercial, religious and cultural
pursuits.
(10) However, not all the funds from the agricultural
surplus were actually available for commercial
investment. Much of the surplus, in the form
of food increases, probably went to raise the
subsistence level; an additional amount, in the form
(15) of currency gained from the sale of food, went into
the royal treasury to be used in waging war.
Although Louis VII of France levied a loss crushing
tax burden on his subjects than did England's Henry
¢ò, Louis VII did spend great sums on an unsuc-
(20) cessful crusade, and his vassals-both lay and
ecclesiastic-took over spending where their
sovereign stopped. Surplus funds were claimed both
by the Church and by feudal landholders, where-
upon cathedrals and castles mushroomed throughout
(25) France.
The simultaneous progress of cathedral building
and, for instance, vineyard expansion in Bordeaux
illustrates the very real competition for available
capital between the Church and commercial interests;
(30) the former produced inestimable moral and
artistic riches, but the latter had a stronger
immediate impact upon gross national product. More-
over, though all wars by definition are defensive,
the frequent crossings of armies that lived off the
(35) land and impartially burned all the huts and barns on
their path consumed considerable resources.
Since demands on the agricultural surplus would
have varied from year to year, we cannot precisely
calculate their impact on the commercial growth of
(40) medieval France. But we must bear that impact in
mind when estimating the assets that were likely to
have been available for investment. No doubt castle
and cathedral building was not totally barren of
profit (for the builders, that is), and it produced
(45) intangible dividends of material and moral satisfac-
tion for the community. Even wars handed back a
fragment of what they took, at least to a few. Still,
we cannot place on the same plane a primarily destruct
ive activity and a constructive one, nor expect
(50) the same results from a new bell tower as from a
new water mill. Above all, medieval France had
little room for investment over and above the
preservation of life. Granted that war cost much less
than it does today, that the Church rendered all
(55) sorts of educational and recreational services that
were unobtainable elsewhere, and that government
was far less demanding than is the modern state¡ª
nevertheless, for medieval men and women, supporting
commercial development required considerable
(60) economic sacrifice.



3. The passage suggests that which of the following would have reduced the assets immediately available for commercial investment in medieval France?

I. Renovation of a large cathedral

II. A sharp increase in the birth rate

III. An invasion of France by Henry II

(A) III only

(B) I and II only

(C) I and III only

(D) II and III only

(E) I, II, and III





8. The passage implies that which of the following yielded the lowest dividend to medieval men and women relative to its cost?

(A) Warfare

(B) Vineyard expansion

(C) Water mill construction

(D) Castle building

(E) Cathedral building


Can anyone explain the correct answers with explanation from the passages. Thanks in advance.

[Genius]

Hi Venkat, IMO here goes :

3. I'd go for (C). The author mentions the cathedral building in lines (25) and (43) and I am assuming it is not restricted to only 'new' cathedrals but also renovations. Also mentions the cost of war on available assets in line (35). And again without specifically mentioning Henry's invasion, he does allude to the same in line (18)

8. I would suggest (A). Because while he is partial to Vineyards and Watermills compared to Castle & Cathedrals - he acknowledges their moral, artistic and intangible dividends are far greater than the narrow benefits of War which accrue to only a few-compared to the damage of land & property that they cause.

Pls share the answer and the reasons given in the guide.

[sdanquah]

I will also go for C and A. From line 25 the author clearly states that "The simultaneous progress of cathedral building and, for instance, vineyard expansion in Bordeaux illustrates the very real competition for available capital between the Church and commercial interests. . Underline the word illustrate the real competition for available capital between the church and commercial interest. Line 35 to line 40 clearly states the impact of wars on commercial activities.
The answer for 2 is as given by Genius

[testtaker821]

go with c