Subsistenzwirtschaft – Vergetreidung – Dörfer. Schritte auf dem Weg zur hochmittelalterlichen Kulturlandschaft in Ostmitteleuropa

The development of the High Medieval cultural landscape significantly changed the structure and environment of the Slavic settlements in East Central Europe. Up to the mid-12th century, small, largely unstructured settlements existed close to the many bodies of water and engaged in a subsistence economy geared towards self-sufficiency and based on farming and livestock herding. After the arrival of immigrants from the West, and in co-operation with the autochthonous population, agricultural areas were significantly expanded and prepared for large-scale cereal cultivation. In this context, large villages also emerged, either grouped around village greens (Angerdorf), in rows along streets (Strasendorf) and along roads or streams through forests (Waldhufendorf; Hagenhufendorf). Their fields were organised according to the demands of three-field crop rotation. Water mills were built in order to process the crops for sale in urban markets, also developing at this time, which led to a rise in the water table of rivers and lakes and thereby significantly impacted on the natural environments of the earlier, water-oriented settlements. Their inhabitants moved into the new villages, where they assimilated to the immigrants and lost their Slavic language and identity, but possibly achieved a higher quality of life through an improved legal status and increased food production.