Final answer:
The Open Field System was an agricultural practice in medieval Europe where land was divided into open fields farmed by individual peasants. The system was enhanced by a 3-field rotation method, the use of the heavy plow, and the introduction of the horse collar, improving efficiency and productivity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Open Field System was a traditional agricultural system that involved dividing arable land into open fields for crop production and was common in medieval Europe. In this system, fields were not enclosed, but rather divided into strips that were farmed by individual peasants within a community. One major innovation within this paradigm was the development of a 3-field rotation system for planting crops. This farming technique enhanced land productivity by rotating crops across three fields, with one lying fallow. It was supported by the introduction of the heavy plow, which could till heavier soils more efficiently, and the widespread use of the horse collar, which made draught horses a more viable option than oxen for farming. Horses were faster and required less pasture, both of which were advantageous for the intensive use of land inherent in the 3-field system.