In what way did urbanisation correlate with agricultural changes?

Urbanisation correlated with agricultural changes through the shift from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture.

Urbanisation, the process of population shift from rural areas to cities, has a significant correlation with changes in agricultural practices. This correlation is primarily due to the shift from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture, which was necessitated by the growing urban populations and their demand for food.

In the pre-industrial era, most societies were agrarian, with the majority of the population engaged in subsistence farming. This form of agriculture was labour-intensive and produced just enough food for the farmer's family, with little or no surplus for trade. However, as urbanisation began to take hold, particularly during the Industrial Revolution, the demand for food in the cities increased. This led to a shift in agricultural practices, with farmers moving away from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture. Commercial agriculture involves the large-scale production of crops for sale, intended for widespread distribution to wholesalers or retail outlets.

The shift to commercial agriculture was facilitated by several factors. Firstly, technological advancements in farming equipment, such as the plough and the seed drill, increased crop yields and made farming more efficient. Secondly, improvements in transportation, such as the development of canals and railways, made it easier to transport produce from rural areas to urban markets. Thirdly, changes in land ownership and farming practices, such as the enclosure movement in England, allowed for larger, more productive farms.

This shift to commercial agriculture had a profound impact on rural societies. Many small farmers, unable to compete with larger commercial farms, were forced to sell their land and move to the cities in search of work. This further fuelled urbanisation and created a cycle of increasing demand for food and agricultural innovation.

In conclusion, urbanisation and agricultural changes are closely linked. The growth of cities created a demand for food that could not be met by traditional subsistence farming. This led to a shift to commercial agriculture, which in turn drove further urbanisation as small farmers moved to the cities.