Lecture on Medieval Peasants

Overview

• Peasants in the Middle Ages had a hard, challenging life.
• Generally seen as a difficult job with poor living conditions.
• Rarely left records of their existence, except during the Peasants' Revolt of 1381.

The Peasants' Revolt of 1381

• Peasants demanded the abolition of servitude, taxation, and aristocracy.
• Revolt took place in Blackheath, London.
• Targeted legal and tax records, court officials, and lawyers.
• Not random violence but informed and political agenda.

Feudal System

• Medieval society was a pyramid: king at the top, peasants at the bottom.
• Peasants worked the fields for the lords, who provided military service to the king.
• Peasants had some autonomy in managing their daily lives and land.

Exception: Village of Laxton

• Laxton still operates on a medieval farming system with a court leet.
• Land farmed in strips, separated by grass borders called 'sicks'.
• Court leet polices land farming rules.

Peasant Life and Responsibilities

• Feudal burden required peasants to work for lords a certain number of days per year.
• Peasants had significant responsibilities but also some autonomy.
• Lords had obligations to peasants, like providing feasts.

Housing and Living Conditions

• Peasants lived in simple dwellings with minimal comforts.
• Varied from single-room huts to slightly larger homes for more affluent peasants.
• Nutrition varied; the use of human waste for fertilizer meant food had to be well-cooked.

Clothing and Fashion

• Post-Black Death, peasants had more freedom and even influenced fashion trends.
• Sumptuary laws tried to restrict peasants' clothing choices.

Education and Literacy

• Education provided by village priests; some peasants advanced to high-ranking positions.
• Literacy seen as a way to check legal documents, not for leisure.

Health and Healthcare

• Contrary to belief, some medieval peasants received decent healthcare.
• Dental health was generally good due to lack of sugar.

Impact of Black Death

• Decimated population, leading to labor shortages.
• Peasants could negotiate better terms and wages.
• Led to increased tension with aristocracy.

Legacy and Changes Post-Revolt

• Although the 1381 revolt failed, it set a precedent for future demands for freedom.
• Led to changes in the feudal system and the rise of tenant farming.
• Long-term social changes as peasants were replaced with more profitable sheep farming.

Conclusion

• Peasants' lives varied widely depending on circumstances.
• The social structure evolved significantly post-medieval period.
• Reflects on the idea that some medieval peasants had better conditions than some modern-day situations.