ASSARTS Meaning and
Definition
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Assarts is a term primarily used in historical and legal contexts to refer to a specific action or process associated with land development and cultivation. It refers to the clearing and cultivation of previously uncultivated or forested land, often performed by peasants or rural communities during medieval times. The term can also be used to describe the land itself that has been cleared and brought into agricultural use.
In legal terms, assarts signify the act of converting common land, typically belonging to a lord or a community, into privately owned land through active cultivation. This process was often accompanied by the clearance of trees, bushes, and other vegetation, making the land productive for agriculture or settlements. This action usually required permission or a license from the lord or landowner, ensuring compensation or rent for the newly developed land.
The term assarts can also be seen as a marker of social and economic changes, reflecting the transition from a primarily forested landscape to one that has been altered for agricultural purposes. It highlights the importance of land use and ownership, as well as the socioeconomic significance of cultivating previously unproductive land.
Today, the term assarts is less commonly used and has more of an academic or historical association. However, it remains a valuable concept in understanding the historical transformation of land and the relationships between people and their environment.
Etymology of ASSARTS
The word "assarts" is derived from the Middle English term "essart", which was borrowed from the Old French word "essarter". In Old French, "essarter" referred to the act of clearing or reclaiming land for cultivation. This term, in turn, is believed to have originated from the Latin word "exartare", meaning "to plow up", which is a combination of "ex" (out) and "arare" (to plow). Over time, "essart" evolved into "assart" in Middle English, and ultimately, "assarts" became the plural form of the word.
