Russian Peasants: How They Lived
Who: Russian Peasants (how they lived)
What it was: Peasants in Russia during this time period were known as serfs who were bonded to their masters in a type of modified slavery. The serfs lived a harsh agrarian life. They worked the lands of their lords that was allotted to them, barely leaving time to take care of their family. They lived under the deep rooted belief that "we belong to the masters but the land is ours". Where: Russia When: Russian serfdom lasted from the 11th century till it's emancipation in 1861 Why it's important: When it first began, Serfdom was popular across most of Europe but eventually serfdom was abolished everywhere but Russia, which lasted the longest till it was abolished in 1861. Under the conditions of serfdom, Russian peasants developed a very different culture from that of those in the higher classes. This culture was based on a round village life, folklore, and superstitions. How it pertains to culture: as a result of the hierarchical divide between serfs and their lords, Russian peasants had a culture that was all their own - very different from the western educated one of their masters. In addition, marriage was highly restricted because the lords didn't want to lose labor to other estates due to marriages between two different estates. As a result, the serfs' communities were tightly knit. |