Peasants Making History: Living In an English Region 1200-1540

Peasants have historically been underrated or disregarded, but historians and archaeologists are now giving them a more positive assessment. Christopher Dyer's book "Peasants Making History" examines peasant society in the west midlands of England and finds that they made decisions and took options to improve their lives, such as managing farming, migrating into urban settings, and trading actively in urban markets. They also engaged in political life, made a significant contribution to religion, recognized the need to conserve the environment, and balanced the interests of individuals with those of the communities in which they lived. The evidence to support this peasant-centred view must be recovered by imaginative interpretation and using every type of source.

Format: Hardback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Peasants have often been marginalized, underrated, or disregarded in the past, but their historical significance is now being reassessed by historians and archaeologists. In his book, Peasants Making History, Christopher Dyer sets a new agenda for studying peasant society, focusing on the peasants of the west midlands of England. Through a comprehensive examination of peasant society in relation to their lords, neighbors, and households, Dyer demonstrates that peasants were active decision-makers and innovators, actively seeking ways to improve their lives.

In their management of farming, peasants made significant modifications and dramatic changes, not just reacting to shifts in circumstances but also pursuing creative initiatives. They played an active role in the development of towns, migrating into urban settings and engaging in active trade in urban markets. Industry in the countryside often emerged as a result of peasant enterprise and flexibility, rather than being imposed on the rural population.

Peasants' attitudes and mentalities were diverse and multifaceted. They engaged in political life, contributed significantly to religion, recognized the importance of environmental conservation, and balanced individual interests with the interests of their communities. Many aspects of our modern world have medieval roots, and peasants played a crucial role in shaping the rural landscape, participation in government, parish church buildings, towns, and social welfare.

Recovering evidence to support a peasant-centered view requires imaginative interpretation and the use of a wide range of sources, including archaeological and landscape evidence. By examining the lives and experiences of peasants, we can gain a deeper understanding of the complex and multifaceted history of our world and the contributions of ordinary people to its development.

Weight: 802g
Dimension: 240 x 164 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198847212