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5The Capetians:Society andEconomy

The political achievement of the Capetians took place against a background ofgreat changes that affected both the material and the spiritual life of the Frenchnation: growth of population, progress in agriculture, the revival of traderelations, the development of urban life, the increased bold of a purified religion,and the flowering of arts and letters.

I. ECONOMY AND SOCIETY

Agricultural Progress. The end of the invasions and the relative securityensured by the strengthening of royal power and the peaceful influence ofthe church (see p. 67) would alone have favored the progress of agriculture.

So did the increased use of iron in traditional farm implements. But theMiddle Ages also produced several remarkable technical innovations:

The horse collar and iron horseshoes, which permitted the moreeffective use of horses in tilling and transport, in place of yoked oxenand human muscle.

The moldboard and wheeled plow, which permitted deeper and

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