Peasants

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Recommended: Peasant life during the middle ages

In Europe between 1000 and 1600 the role of peasantry cannot be overlooked. Peasants were essential in maintaining the agricultural and economical standards set by their lords. They were the backbone of society because they became the source from where the supply of food will come from, sustaining themselves and those of higher power. Due to the high demands of work made by authority figures towards the English and German peasants, peasants felt taken advantage of and revolted. The grievances and aspirations that cause these revolts were similar but yet distinct. Being a vital part of society, peasants felt as the royal government and the church to be corrupted, taking advantage of their power in order to make them meet their wants and needs.
Peasants, being skilled workers, did all the labor work in the society regarding farming and growing crops. After the Black Death the population declined drastically making the peasants even more fundamental to the economical and agricultural stability of the European society. Everyone since that moment depended on them more as a source for food. Since higher authority figures live off the work that peasants performed, without them the community itself would be lost on how to provide for themselves. Since the peasants acquired the special skill given to grow crops, those in higher power took advantage increasing their demands. Given that the demands of labor by higher power were stupendously high and inconsiderate, the peasants rebelled arguing their grievances and hoping their aspirations to be met.
During these revolts there were many peasants rebelling against the corrupted feudal system and the corruption within the Church. The amount of peasants involved indicated the high level of di...

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...he word of God and the Scriptures then the “Twelve Articles by the Peasants” written by the German Peasants may have not been written. This article was only made because German Peasants felt that the excessive demands and unfair treatment made by the lords were not in accordance with the word or will of God. If the church was not corrupted, then there wouldn’t be so many criticisms made towards their teachings and the way the word of God was projected.
In other words, peasants were significant to the European society by being the ones who maintain the economic stability, sustained the social hierarchy and harvested all food supply to keep the population growing. The excessive demands made peasants felt taken advantage of and instead of passively accepting they revolted expressing their grievances and aspirations towards the corrupted royal government and church.

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