Paper looks a little over-simplified. There's probably a better natural experiment between those estates (originally manors) sold by Henry VIII and those retained in church ownership - in the ownership of Bishops and of Deans and Chapters of Cathedrals - e.g. the large property of the Cathedral monastery of Worcester transferred to the Dean and Chapter, while the property of other monasteries in the area (Pershore, Evesham) were sold. Though I'd suspect that the extent of commercial management of estates (involving transfer of copyhold land aka villein tenure at traditional rent to free leases at a rack-rent) might be more significant. Looked at some of this in one parish some 50 years ago. Distribution of copyhold rents widened between 1379 and 1646 and particularly 1646 and 1668 - English civil war affecting remaining church land.
Overlaying some of the charts with the types of soil and farming suitable would be interesting.
The north and west of Britain generally have poorer, thinner soils and are more rewarding for sheep farming - which requires a lower density of farming (and farmers) than arable agriculture.
Paper looks a little over-simplified. There's probably a better natural experiment between those estates (originally manors) sold by Henry VIII and those retained in church ownership - in the ownership of Bishops and of Deans and Chapters of Cathedrals - e.g. the large property of the Cathedral monastery of Worcester transferred to the Dean and Chapter, while the property of other monasteries in the area (Pershore, Evesham) were sold. Though I'd suspect that the extent of commercial management of estates (involving transfer of copyhold land aka villein tenure at traditional rent to free leases at a rack-rent) might be more significant. Looked at some of this in one parish some 50 years ago. Distribution of copyhold rents widened between 1379 and 1646 and particularly 1646 and 1668 - English civil war affecting remaining church land.
Overlaying some of the charts with the types of soil and farming suitable would be interesting.
The north and west of Britain generally have poorer, thinner soils and are more rewarding for sheep farming - which requires a lower density of farming (and farmers) than arable agriculture.
Broadly, something like this;
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DkrMZpwXsAAHxqZ?format=jpg&name=900x900
I agree