ABSTRACT
This chapter proposes a systematic study of the relationships of peasantry to other societal dimensions. An analysis of those various dimensions and their interrelationship in different situations might eventually throw light on the question of what influence members of other societal dimensions exert on the formation or transformation of views typical of peasantry. Wolfram Eberhard feels that he is not yet in a position to make a definite statement about possible relationships between the suggested genetic typology of villages and variations in basic peasant attitudes. One of the historically most important examples of complex patterns of societal dimensions to which peasantry has been intricately related is represented by feudalism. The higher birthrate among peasantry, proletariat, and denizens of slums has to be explained by other socio-economic reasons and not by anything that is hereditary or occupationally inherent.
