The enclosure of knowledge : books, power and agrarian capitalism in Britain, 1660-1800 / James D. Fisher.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Fisher, James D., 1985- author.

Series:

Cambridge studies in early modern British history

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Agricultural literature--Great Britain--History--18th century.

Agricultural literature.

Agriculture publishing--Great Britain--History--18th century.

Agriculture publishing.

Agriculture--Economic aspects--Great Britain--18th century.

Agriculture.

Land tenure--Great Britain--History--18th century.

Land tenure.

Books and reading--Great Britain--History--18th century.

Books and reading.

Literacy--Economic aspects--Great Britain--18th century.

Literacy.

Capitalism--Great Britain--History--18th century.

Capitalism.

Great Britain--Economic conditions--18th century.

Great Britain.

Great Britain--Intellectual life--18th century.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xiii, 325 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2022.

System Details:

Mode of Access: World Wide Web.

Summary:

The rise of agrarian capitalism in Britain is usually told as a story about markets, land and wages. The Enclosure of Knowledge reveals that it was also about books, knowledge and expertise. It argues that during the early modern period, farming books were a key tool in the appropriation of the traditional art of husbandry possessed by farm workers of all kinds. It challenges the dominant narrative of an agricultural 'enlightenment', in which books merely spread useful knowledge, by showing how codified knowledge was used to assert greater managerial control over land and labour. The proliferation of printed books helped divide mental and manual labour to facilitate emerging social divisions between labourers, managers and landowners. The cumulative effect was the slow enclosure of customary knowledge. By synthesising diverse theoretical insights, this study opens up a new social history of agricultural knowledge and reinvigorates long-term histories of knowledge under capitalism.

Contents:

Introduction: Pen over plough

Rethinking agricultural books, knowledge and labour

Learning without books : the mystery of husbandry

Standing on the shoulders of peasants : the appropriation of the art of husbandry

Learning without labour : codification and managerial knowledge

Dividing head and hand : gentleman farmers, agriculturists and expertise

Monopolising knowledge : professionalisation, education and stewards

The master should know more : book-farming, power and resistance

Conclusion: New histories of knowledge.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 14 Jul 2022).

Other Format:

Print version:

ISBN:

9781009049283 (ebook)

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.