中世纪英格兰农耕中马的役使问题研究

The Problem of Horse Servitude in Medieval England

挽畜是促进人类农业发展的重要因素之一,其中马在耐力和速度方面具有自身的优势。随着马具革新、生产工具改进以及燕麦供给的增加,马作为挽畜开始进入中世纪英格兰的农业生产领域,其主要役使形式有耕地、耙地和拉车。由于受到土壤和地势环境的影响,用马耕地呈现出区域化的特征,即主要集中在东盎格利亚、密德兰东部和伦敦周边的几个郡。马的役使不仅促进三圃制的普及、农业生产的集约化以及农作物产量的提高,而且还有助于城乡间商品的流通,进而推动中世纪英格兰乡村经济的发展。

Draught animals are one of the important promoters of agriculture,in which horse has its advantage in stamina and speeds.With the innovation of harness,the improvement of production tools and the increased supply of oats,horse entered the field of agricultural production in medieval England as a draught animal,and its major work included ploughing,harrowing and pulling vehicles.The use of horse varied with regard to the soil and terrain environment.Mostly employed in East Anglia,eastern Midland and several counties around London,horse farming thus had regional characteristics.The use of horse not only promoted the popularization of the three-field rotation,the intensification of agricultural production and the increase of crop yields,but also contributed to the circulation of urban and rural commodities,which effectively enhanced the rural economy of Medieval England.