Peasants and food security in England and Wales c.1300

Food security is discussed with a particular focus on the decades either side of 1300, years characterised by poor weather and significant fluctuations in food availability, evident especially in the varied performance of grain harvests. Examining access to food and the vulnerability of the food supply in a period of particular pressure on food resources allows reflection on stresses on food availability in these decades as well as the range of approaches that individuals and institutions could employ in seeking to respond to them. The article discusses relative entitlement and contemporary perceptions of the same. While its focus is upon rural society and the experience of the peasantry, there will necessarily be some reference to the urban context, which cannot be separated from the experience of the countryside, and the attempts of institutions such as government to respond to issues relevant to food security in this period.

Automated summary

This article discusses food security in the decades around 1300, which were characterized by poor weather and significant fluctuations in food availability, especially in grain harvests. It explores the vulnerability of the food supply and the various approaches individuals and institutions could take to address these challenges. The article also examines relative entitlement and contemporary perceptions of it, with some reference to the urban context and governmental response to food security issues in this period.