Editorials & Other Articles

In medieval Europe, much of the land, known as the commons, was a vital resource accessible to everyone for shared use.

Peasants relied on the commons to graze livestock, collect firewood, forage for food such as nuts, berries, and medicinal herbs, gather water, and plant small crops on marginal or less fertile land.

These shared resources were essential for sustaining their families and communities, providing a safety net in times of hardship.

However, the enclosure movement gradually transformed these common lands into private property, typically granted to wealthy landowners. Initially, landowners charged fees for the use of what had been free communal resources.

Over time, they enclosed the land entirely, using it for their own purposes, such as grazing sheep for the lucrative wool trade or cultivating crops.

This privatization deprived peasants of their traditional rights and means of survival, leaving them unable to sustain livestock or grow enough food independently...

Destroying The Common Good. Enclosure Acts, Project 2025
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016393718