-
500
Economics destroyed Roman slavery
Estate management of slaves became costly and the empire ceased to expand. The supply of new slaves declined and the size of cities became small. Market oriented, large scal agriculture became less profitable -
501
Slaves became akin to sharecroppers
They cultivated the plots, made annual payments to thier owners and clutivated the undivided portions of the estate -
Period: 501 to
From Slave to peasant
Lords sold off some of their slaves while establishing other slave families n individual plots of land -
Period: Jul 1, 600 to
Christianity Spreads
Christianity was the center of a peasants life -
Period: Jul 31, 1000 to Jul 31, 1300
Population doubled in growth
As population increased so did the demand for peasant labor -
Jul 31, 1001
Three field system becomes standard
This greatly increased yeild, a minimal increase in labor and their diet improved -
Jul 31, 1100
The beginning of free peasantry
In order to incourage the bringing in of new land the lord made special arrangements with the villages. Villages had the privilage of dealing with the lord and his reps collectively. They were also able to purchase the right to control petty courts and limit fine. They also had protection from the arbitrary demands of labor and taxes. As a result the were able to negoiate their freedom -
Jul 31, 1315
First great famine
People died by the thousands and the peasants were hit the hardest -
Period: Jul 31, 1336 to Jul 31, 1435
Hundred years' war
-
Period: Jul 31, 1347 to Jul 31, 1352
Black Death
One-third to one-half of the population died from this diease caused by infected rats. As a result fields were abandoned, work places stood idle and trade was suspended. Traditional bonds of kinship, village and regligion were broken -
Jul 31, 1349
Peasants are in great demand
The surviving peasants of the BLack Death were able to negoiate higher wages and improve relationships with landlords -
Jul 31, 1358
The Jacquerie
Peasants taxes increased and as a result peasant revolted against their landlords. They attacked nobles killing them along with their children and wives -
Period: Jul 31, 1381 to
Peasant revolt
Peasants revolted across Europe. They beileved that they could change their lives for the better by being unified -
Jul 31, 1400
Public assistance; Social control and repression
Hospitals distributed food to the poor. In some cities only people with special license wer able to beg. -
Peasants become primary source of income for their lords
Lords forced peasants to move into small settlements thus abandoning thier isolated farmsteads and traditional villages. In the newly found villages everything must be done with the lords permission ie marriage, settling desputes in the lords court, using the lords mills ect.