PEASANTRY Meaning and
Definition
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Peasantry refers to the social class of agricultural laborers or small-scale farmers who primarily cultivate and tend to crops or livestock for their livelihood. Often associated with rural communities, the peasantry plays a crucial role in food production, both historically and in contemporary societies.
In most cases, peasants engage in subsistence farming, where they grow crops or raise livestock primarily to meet the needs of their own families and communities. Their agricultural practices are often labor-intensive and closely tied to the land they live on. Peasants typically live in small villages or hamlets, adhering to traditional farming techniques passed down through generations.
The peasantry's socio-economic conditions are characterized by limited access to resources and land ownership, resulting in their dependence on wealthy landowners or nobles. This power dynamic is often reflected in the form of feudal systems or agrarian societies, where peasants are bound to both the land and the ruling classes through various obligations or taxes.
Historically, peasants have played a significant role in shaping societies, cultures, and economies. They have contributed to the development of agricultural practices, the maintenance of traditions, and the preservation of communal values. However, their marginalized status and lack of political power have also made them susceptible to exploitation and poverty.
Overall, peasantry represents a distinct social class of rural farmers and laborers, symbolizing a way of life closely connected to agricultural practices, collective communities, and traditional values.
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The body of country people; the rustics taken together.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
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Etymology of PEASANTRY
The word "peasantry" originated from the Middle English term "paysanterie", which came from the Anglo-Norman French word "paisantise" or "paisante", meaning "country" or "rural". This in turn derived from the Latin word "pagus", meaning "a district or rural area". Over time, "paysanterie" evolved into "peasantry", a term used to refer to the lower class of agricultural laborers or rural inhabitants.
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