ABSTRACT
The Routledge Handbook of Medieval Rural Life brings together the latest research on peasantry in medieval Europe.
The aim is to place peasants – as small-scale agricultural producers – firmly at the centre of this volume, as people with agency, immense skill and resilience to shape their environments, cultures and societies. This volume examines the changes and evolutions within village societies across the medieval period, over a broad chronology and across a wide geography. Rural structures, families and hierarchies are examined alongside tool use and trade, as well as the impact of external factors such as famine and the Black Death. The contributions offer insights into multidisciplinary research, incorporating archaeological as well as landscape studies alongside traditional historical documentary approaches across widely differing local and regional contexts across medieval Europe.
This book will be an essential reference for scholars and students of medieval history, as well those interested in rural, cultural and social history.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part 1|86 pages
Social relationships, communities and hierarchies
chapter 5|15 pages
Creative writing
part 2|78 pages
Dealing with conflicts and adversity
chapter 7|14 pages
The monks and the masses at Saint-Leu d'Esserent
chapter 10|22 pages
Climate, pathogens and mammals
part 3|125 pages
Work and making a living
part 4|90 pages
Environment, landscapes and material culture