The Fencing Of The Commons

This episode dives into the enclosure movement in medieval and early modern England—a massive historical land grab that fundamentally reshaped society and may have roots in modern wealth inequality. Josh and Chuck explore how wealthy nobles systematically fenced off communal farmland that peasants had legally used for centuries, forcing rural communities into cities and factories during the Industrial Revolution. The hosts examine the resistance to these changes, from peasant revolts to radical groups like the Diggers, and discuss how this shift created the modern class system and labor market that still defines our world today.