ABSTRACT
Late medieval to early modern England witnessed many social, economic, and cultural changes, including enclosure of the landscape and widespread changes in perceptions about land and goods. These changes are associated with the rise of rural capitalism, before the large-scale industrial capitalism of the 18th century. Matthew Johnson looks at that change through the lens of material culture as he traces enclosure of the landscape, transformations in both 'polite' and vernacular architecture, and major changes in household goods. Piecemeal enclosure occurred especially in wood-pasture areas where peasants could exchange neighboring holdings to collect their land together. This type of enclosure is very difficult to study, as it was informal and didn't leave clear evidence on the landscape or in documentary records. Enclosure of the countryside and contemporary changes in other areas of life resulted in new ways of thinking and acting, but the changes were not all-encompassing. Folk traditions and alternative cultural models also persisted.
