The "medieval peasants worked less than you do" myth is going around again, and it's one of the things that prompted me to write this series, so...🧵
1) No, they didn't. Work worked differently, but medieval elites exploited commoners until they were stopped. Sources are pretty consistent on this.
1) No, they didn't. Work worked differently, but medieval elites exploited commoners until they were stopped. Sources are pretty consistent on this.
Reposted from
David Forbes
With today's gentry playing at being feudal despots, it's worth remembering the many, many ways medieval commoners organized, resisted and fought back against the rulers of their day.
Forget stereotypes about docile peasants, the truth is *a lot* more interesting:
www.patreon.com/collection/1...
Forget stereotypes about docile peasants, the truth is *a lot* more interesting:
www.patreon.com/collection/1...
Comments
2) The Church, as a whole, wasn't stopping peasants being overworked. Many church officials *were* feudal landlords themselves. Indeed, as their attention wasn't drawn away by wars as often as that of nobles, they often show up as particularly exploitative elites...
3) This myth takes away agency from medieval peasants. When they did work less it was often befause of their own actions, organizing communes, forceful "disobedience" or outright revolt...
If you want a lesson about medieval peasants' work life we can apply today, that's it.
But even if one is just looking at western europe during the latter half of the era this myth is still wildly false.
https://bsky.app/profile/calthalas.bsky.social/post/3lo2o5y7w6k27
Makes total sense why they wouldn't celebrate victories of the commoners.